Relationship Between Population Size and COVID-19 Test Positivity Rates in California Counties Based on Data from 02-28-21 to 03-06-21
Source: California Department of Public Health (CSV).
- Scatter plot analysis indicates no clear correlation between population size and test positivity rates for COVID-19, suggesting that the spread of the virus is not solely determined by population density.
- Counties with both extreme high and low population counts demonstrate a wide range of test positivity rates, signifying that other factors in addition to population size influence COVID-19 transmission.
- Variation in testing rates and tier assignments across the counties suggests that a multitude of regional factors, including public health measures, affect the test positivity rates.
- Limitations of the analysis include a short timeframe and that no historical comparison could be made to assess trends over time due to data being from a single week.