DES MOINES, Iowa - The Iowa Department of Health says it knew about a flaw in the state's COVID-19 reporting system back in July.
The glitch, which incorrectly backdated test results, had the affect of artificially reducing the COVID-19 rates in 79 counties. The other 20 counties saw their rates rise by an average of less than one percent, according to Governor Kim Reynolds.
The error, which occurred with thousands of people who tested more than once, backdated their most recent test results to the their first test, often by several months.
State Epidemiologist Dr. Caitlin Pedati did not explain why the incorrect information was released, but said the department has been flexible as efforts are made to get out as much information as quickly as possible.
Governor Reynolds says she became aware of the system flaw last week, which was corrected with accurate COVID-19 rates for each county on Wednesday.
The discovery of the error and its correction come as schools are using the state's virus data in deciding how to bring kids back to classrooms.
The Fort Dodge district abruptly canceled a two week delay in the start of its school year after corrected data reduced county COVID-19 rates by more than 10 percent.
The state is requiring schools to open with at least 50 percent of classes in person unless the county the school is in reaches a 15 percent positivity rate for COVID-19 over 14 days.
A number of districts have objected to the 50 percent requirement and asked for a waiver to start classes completely online, or are choosing to defy the order.
The Des Moines district is now in the process of seeking a waiver while similar requests from several other districts have been denied.