[LINK] OT: The Quality of Reporting on "COVID-19-Linked" Deaths

[Roger Clarke]

On 3/4/20 5:12 pm, Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:
> This is a stunning dynamic graphic.
> https://public.flourish.studio/visualisation/1756015/?utm_source=showcase&utm_campaign=visualisation/1756015

Best demo yet of 100% image and 0% substance.

'Case numbers' is a meaningless metric, because it's impossible to know 
what each of the at least 40 data-elements means, it adds apples and 
oranges, and none of it tells anyone anything useful.

Metrics that can assist in public health decisions:
-   Deaths
-   Death counts normalised by population and normal death rates
-   ICU admissions, and successful and unsuccessful discharges
-   Hospital admissions, and successful and unsuccessful discharges
-   Proportions of specific at-risk populations tested
-   Results of tests on random samples (to assess herd immunity)

-- 
Roger Clarke                            mailto:Roger.Clarke at xamax.com.au
T: +61 2 6288 6916   http://www.xamax.com.au  http://www.rogerclarke.com

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Visiting Professor in the Faculty of Law            University of N.S.W.
Visiting Professor in Computer Science    Australian National University