"I don't see where it would be much of a resource drag. All of the data is simple and easily found."
I can easily see how it would be a resource drag. Hospital and hospital system margins are thin. And not every hospital or hospital system might highly prioritize direct-to-public reporting right now.
I take a look at Sutter Health's web site, which is in our local area. Not for profit. One of my Porsche friends/racing competitors just finished a stint as Chairman of the Board at Sutter Health. Really nice man-- very accomplished and a helluva racing driver. Sutter seems to focus on their patients... not acting as a general clearinghouse of Covid-19 stats.
I met the Sutter CIO last Fall. Their innovation program was funded by a $20m gift from a local couple I know. Good on them.
I also look at UCSF, and the same seems true. They seem to focus on patients.
These enterprises are not run by inexpert folks. They have a lot of expert, accomplished professionals.
I think in some cases, they are leaving public health data reporting to public health entities. That is what I would expect.
Look at Hopkins:
https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/about
They have a Covid Resource Center. Looks like philanthropic backing, at least in part.
Bloomberg is related to one of those philanthropic organizations: "The Center is supported by Bloomberg Philanthropies and the Stavros Niarchos Foundation, both long-term philanthropic partners of the university."
TMC is the largest medical city in the world. Not just a hospital... really a medical city. Different scale.
And in any case, I think what needs to be done is well known. In reality, I don't think there is much ambiguity. Public health to me is "where its at."