The weekly stats uncovered
A series that goes behind the numbers in the news
What questions should you ask when you hear a claim based on data?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersThe source, the number, and the claim need to be trustworthy
Exponential growth is unintuitive and can be frightening
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersBut, fortunately, it cannot continue indefinitely
Deaths attributable to alcohol, air pollution and flu must be modelled rather than counted
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersPeople might like a single number to explain an issue but health is much more nuanced than that
Dealing with uncertainty about the Omicron variant
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersCaution is sensible when so much is unknown
With Covid studies, the quality of the evidence matters
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersPutting many low-quality studies together cannot provide reliable answers about masks and ivermectin
How do we know the effect of boosters?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersLike seatbelts, vaccines lower risk and two studies reveal the protection that a third jab offers
On Covid, we need to be careful when we talk about numbers
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersA recent wave of mistakes shows how misinterpreting data risks misrepresenting the impact of the virus
We can be confident there have been far more than 5 million global Covid deaths
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony Masters
What proportion of pregnant women have been fully vaccinated?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersThe share is likely to be higher than recent claims
Which protects you more against Covid – vaccination or prior infection?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersFor the Delta variant at least, the latest analysis suggests they are roughly equivalent
What’s the value of a confirmatory PCR test?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersA positive lateral flow test, followed by a negative PCR, still means a reasonable chance of Covid-19
More people are dying at home, but the quality of their deaths matters most
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersDid they receive care and compassion from loved ones or did they die alone, fearful of getting infected in hospital?
Rules and advice don’t slow the spread of the virus – human behaviour does
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersSurveys can help us understand how the pandemic is influenced by our choices
The difficulties of estimating long Covid
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersThe number of people with post-Covid syndrome depends on the statistical method used
Take care with claims about unvaccinated case rates
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersDifferent estimates of the population can produce wildly different rates
More depression and anxiety, but fewer suicides in England and Wales during lockdown
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersMental health statistics over the pandemic have a complex pattern
Numbers don’t always mean what they seem to mean
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersIt pays to always check what is actually being counted
Who is now receiving critical care for Covid?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersAlmost one in three younger women admitted are currently or recently pregnant
Covid has played havoc with interpreting economic trends
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersCaution is needed when extrapolating from statistics in times that are far from normal
Will we reach herd immunity for the new coronavirus?
David Spiegelhalter and Anthony MastersIt appears unlikely, but we should try to get as close as possible
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