Topic: Probable Cases

The Guardian reported that a majority of recent COVID-19 deaths in England occurred among vaccinated individuals, a phenomenon described as an expected outcome of an effective but imperfect vaccine in a highly vaccinated population. Additionally, health agencies are increasingly using "probable cases" in their reporting, which critics argue may include false positives or standard influenza cases.

A May 18th Collin County City Council meeting revealed that the Texas Department of State Health Services adopted a "probable case" definition for COVID-19. Under these rules, individuals in contact with a single confirmed case can be added to the official case count without being tested themselves. This change in reporting methodology is cited as a primary driver for the reported "surge" in Texas.