"Our data system failed," Dr. Mark Ghaly says in online event discussing problems with COVID-19 database. "It's a problem the governor demanded my team and I solve."

So the problem, says Ghaly:

> A workaround put in place after a 7/25 computer server outage was not removed once things were fixed. (Dunno what that really means)

> 7/31-8/4: no results from "one of our largest commercial labs" b/c "the state neglected to renew" a certificate.

"The governor has directed a full investigation of what happened. And we will hold people accountable," Ghaly says.

He insists, though, the improving trend lines @GavinNewsom highlighted on Monday are accurate.

Dr. Ghaly's first question, from @TarynLuna, was why did Newsom tout progress on Monday when some say they heard about problems on Friday?

Ghaly insists he didn't know until Monday. So.. unclear why a county like Riverside reports it was told on Friday.

Well, this sort of answers it... and it's not a good look for the Newsom admin.

"We are aware that individuals (in state govt) there were knowledgeable of some of these challenges" before Ghaly/Newsom did.

And then this: the county monitoring list was put on hold on *last* Friday, but Ghaly says for a different reason.

This may only fuel the frustration in local communities about the list's accuracy and its control over open/closed local businesses & schools.

Also pointed out to me: Ghaly says he thinks the backlog of records can be cleared out in 24-48 hours... but... it's already been a week since problems were first noted by some and the state's still behind.

So can they really catch up this fast?

Some may grumble with this close examination, but Ghaly's prepared remarks today on what he knew and when:

"I became aware of the magnitude of the data backlog in the late afternoon on Monday."

Note: that doesn't say he didn't know there was a problem earlier.