I often see people comparing #covid19 deaths/any unit over time between countries, and based on who is doing better conclude which method to achieve physical distancing is better. 1/ https://www.dn.se/debatt/manga-tankbara-forklaringar-till-skillnaden-i-dodlighet/

It is as we have forgotten all about other factors that matter when exploring potential causal relationship between exposure and outcome 2/

It is as if we have forgotten how to ”do” research, how to be a researcher 3/

This newspaper article raises a few factors that could influence the between country differences in #covid19 death toll. It talks about, for example: 4/

* Differences in demographics between countries. Does having an old population impact the death toll? 5/

* Does population density and crowding matter? 6/

* Differences in risk factor distributions, do they matter? 7/

* Are countries with a large proportion of socially disadvantaged worse off? 8/

* Does how we organize our care for the elderly matter? 9/

I think (note: I THINK, I do not know) all of these things, and then some, matter. Stop comparing death rates to motivate your beliefs during this pandemic. It just isn’t answering the question you’re asking. 10/