Coronavirus Accounting Is Looking Vulnerable
Is there too much testing going on, or too little?
Empty streetcars are just one symptom of the spreading coronavirus.
Photographer: Ginamarco Maraviglia/BloombergThe daily counting of new coronavirus cases has become a grim fixture for politicians, investors and the public. The latest figures suggest the infection is past its peak in China, where cases appear to have plateaued. But it’s spreading fast elsewhere. Italy, which emerged as the epicenter of the virus in Europe last month, posted a 50% jump in confirmed cases on Sunday to 1,694 — more than any other country bar China and South Korea — while France’s rose 30% to 130. Swathes of Northern Italy are in lockdown, while France has banned big public gatherings and advised against la bise.
But this critical indicator is starting to look pretty vulnerable to changing testing methods and the nudging of politicians.