How does the county avoid counting COVID cases twice?

ROCHESTER, N.Y. (WHEC) — When the Monroe County Public Health Department is counting positive COVID cases, what prevents it from counting some cases twice?

For example, if someone tests positive at home, then also tests positive after taking a lab-confirmed test at a doctor’s office, two different positive results from the same person would be sent to the county.

News10NBC went right to the source and asked Public Health Commissioner, Dr. Michael Mendoza.

“We get the names of the individuals who test positive at home and for those who get a confirmation, we’ll get the lab results a day or two later and will go and adjust the numbers accordingly so we’re not duplicating anybody who had taken the test within a couple of days,” Mendoza said.

The viewer who asked us this question was worried that if the person reported the at-home test and then the doctor’s office reports the other test, that person would be counted twice, but Mendoza said that is not the case.