Numbers are misconstrued
To the editor:
The United States remains the nation hit the worst by the pandemic, with the world’s highest caseload and death toll accounting for more than 18 percent of the global deaths.
An updated model forecast by the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation at the University of Washington has projected 567,195 COVID-19 deaths in the United States by April 1, 2021, based on current projection scenario.
A recent editorial gives a false accounting of the pandemics “rate” of deaths … states that recorded the highest number of fatalities … which were listed as “deadliest” … these states have big numbers because they are very large populated states … big difference:
New York State, Texas was second (red state), New Jersey, Illinois, Pennsylvania, Michigan, Massachusetts, Georgia (red State).
But that is specious logic. Highest death “rates,” which means more deaths per thousand population, leans heavily on red states.
Iowa (blue), South Dakota (red), North Dakota (red), Wyoming (red), Illinois (blue), Arkansas (red), Kansas (red), New Mexico (purple), Rhode Island (red). Red states being 7 out of the top 10 highest death “rates.”
In statistical parlance that means that the rate determines the deadliest count and it quite obviously is leaning towards red states that have the deadliest rate of death, not democratically controlled states at all.
Funny how logic and statistics can prove the argument better than opinions and misinformation. I’m sorry, but the presented numbers are misconstrued — sometimes called “fake news.”
David Hurley
St. James City