Austin Public Health is issuing the following statement on the backlog of cases from the Texas Department of State Health Services:

Austin, Texas – Austin Public Health (APH) reported 350 new COVID-19 cases today, Aug. 18. The increase in cases began last week when APH received backlogged laboratory data from the Texas Department of State Health Services (DSHS).

APH received approximately 2,200 lab reports from DSHS on Aug. 13 and has since been processing and entering the reports. The majority of the results are duplicate records with case investigation already completed by APH. Additionally, many of the results are from more than a month ago, with some records dating back as far as April. While backlogged lab results are just being received by APH, most cases should have been notified by their providers of their results. 

The new cases are the result of a backlog of electronic lab reports sent from DSHS. The National Electronic Disease Surveillance System (NEDSS) Electronic Laboratory Reporting (ELR) system at DSHS provides a method for hospital and clinical laboratories to electronically submit test results to fulfill their statutory obligation to report test results to the public health authority.

APH will continue to process the backlogged lab results and will not know the true impact of the reporting error until processing is complete.

For COVID-19 information and updates, visit www.AustinTexas.gov/COVID19.