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I haven't but shortest answer is (like Belgium) we are classifying deaths in ways a lot of countries are not.
For supposed spin experts, the government are being transparent by putting nursing home deaths in the official counts - dozens of countries are not.
Longer answer... https://twitter.com/adamos29/status/1252376488545906690
For supposed spin experts, the government are being transparent by putting nursing home deaths in the official counts - dozens of countries are not.
Longer answer... https://twitter.com/adamos29/status/1252376488545906690
San Marino's death per capita is 8x higher than Ireland (1,145 per million vs 140.24). But in real terms, that's only 38 people dead in San Marino.
Whereas China death rate is 46x lower than Ireland (3.22 vs 140.24) despite having 4,632 dead.
Whereas China death rate is 46x lower than Ireland (3.22 vs 140.24) despite having 4,632 dead.
It will look progressively worse as you get into the smaller nations where 1 death is a much bigger proportion of their population.
There are lots of factors though.
Ireland are "over-classifying" deaths. Anyone covid19 positive is counted, that isn't the case everywhere else.
There are lots of factors though.
Ireland are "over-classifying" deaths. Anyone covid19 positive is counted, that isn't the case everywhere else.
Dozens of countries (e.g. US, UK, Russia, Austria) were counting hospital deaths only.
Dozens of other countries were classifying death by the comorbidity. If a terminal lung cancer patient dies in Cork with covid19, that's a coronavirus death.
Other countries it might not be.
Dozens of other countries were classifying death by the comorbidity. If a terminal lung cancer patient dies in Cork with covid19, that's a coronavirus death.
Other countries it might not be.
Lots of places are deciding to count that as lung cancer.
It's not necessarily nefarious or "wrong" to count it as lung cancer, but I find it unsatisfactory and prefer the Irish method. Dying covid19 positive means a lonely death & funeral restrictions. Should be counted.
It's not necessarily nefarious or "wrong" to count it as lung cancer, but I find it unsatisfactory and prefer the Irish method. Dying covid19 positive means a lonely death & funeral restrictions. Should be counted.
A lot of places are not counting deaths at home either. Many NY deaths were not counted (per NYC Councilman Mark Levine).
Lastly, we're testing more than most places (and finding more covid).
So it's a combination of testing more, over-classifying and being transparent.
Lastly, we're testing more than most places (and finding more covid).
So it's a combination of testing more, over-classifying and being transparent.
-The upside of being transparent is the people know where they stand and it's morally the correct thing to do.
-The downside is we have a skewed death rate.
If we implemented the wide criteria used by other countries, our 687 dead would probably read about ~180 dead.
-The downside is we have a skewed death rate.
If we implemented the wide criteria used by other countries, our 687 dead would probably read about ~180 dead.
We'd immediately be excluding 54% of the total from nursing homes bringing the total to ~310. From there we'd be cutting comorbidities off the list, which would be another ~130.
I much prefer Ireland's methodology as it acknowledges the humanity of people's deaths.
I much prefer Ireland's methodology as it acknowledges the humanity of people's deaths.
Omit nursing homes and comorbidities as many countries are doing, yeah sure the numbers look a lot better and help politically too.
But that's doing a massive disservice to the people who died lonely deaths and families left behind.
They shouldn't be forgotten. Count them.
But that's doing a massive disservice to the people who died lonely deaths and families left behind.
They shouldn't be forgotten. Count them.
