A Numbers Game
It’s hard to trust any of the data being released about COVID-19. At its base level, we don’t know how many of those with pre-existing conditions died due to COVID instead of the annual flu. Presumably, the overall death toll is larger, which is tragic, but caution with any statistics that are framed or compiled by those with an agenda, and that includes the government.
However, these numbers were compiled two weeks ago, and the ratios have not changed.
Here’s the headline, the disease is far more fatal to those above age 60…but far more likely to be found in persons under age 40. Some of that has to do with distribution of age groups in the population, but it’s still an important distinction.
Let’s start with cases…48 percent of all positive cases come from the 18 to 40 year old age group…that’s nearly half. Another almost 30 percent of positive cases come from the 41 to 60 year old age group.
Yet when we talk about deaths, almost half…47.3 percent…are in the over 80 year old group. Another 41 percent are in the 61 to 80 year old group.
And yes, it’s terribly cruel for those above age 80…only 3.8 percent of the total positive cases are in that age group, but the mortality rate is huge…as noted, 47.3 percent.
Phrased a bit differently, 78 percent of the positive cases are among 18 to 60 year olds…and 88 percent of deaths are in the over 60 year old group.
The distinction could not be more sharp. And that’s what we should be basing policy decisions and actions on.
