I've been trying to think of an eye-catching statistic that completely fails to factor in context or variables, to demonstrate how important it is to consider the bigger picture when looking at data, because otherwise bad conclusions can be drawn

I've thought of one

The UK population is about 66.5 million

The number of people who work in the NHS is about 1.5 million

Therefore the number of people who don't is about 65 million

The number of people who have died with COVID-19 is currently 10,612

37 of those people worked in the NHS

Therefore 10,575 people who do not work in the NHS have died.

10,575 of the 65 million who do not work for the NHS = 0.02%

37 of the 1.5 million who do work in the NHS = 0.002%

So what's the bogus conclusion we can draw here?

SHOCK AS STATISTICS SHOW YOU ARE TEN TIMES MORE LIKELY TO DIE OF COVID-19 IF YOU DON'T WORK FOR THE NHS THAN IF YOU DO!!

That's right. If you fail to consider any variables or wider context, it looks to be that not working for the NHS is 10x more dangerous than working for the NHS

Of course, this is complete nonsense. Fact is the demographics most likely to die are unlikely to work for the NHS.

but you can just imagine the spin people like Piers Morgan would put on it, can't you?

STAGGERING death toll OUTSIDE the NHS RED ZONES shows the SCALE of the Government's INCOMPETENCE

Or Conspiracy Carole

The NHS hiding a cure for COVID-19 and only using it on themselves!

Now, with the above in mind, think about the accounts spouting 'look how well Ireland have done! And New Zealand! Whereas the UK has SO MANY MORE DEATHS!'

If you don't consider the variables, you end up as loopy as Conspiracy Carole and as outraged as Piers Morgan.

End