Coronavirus

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

True, but there are loads of similar ‘causes of death’ which are misleading.

My dad had stomach cancer but actually died of a heart attack shortly after being sent home to die. On his death certificate it is down as heart attack. These kind of anomalies make a lot statistics meaningless - even dangerous if certain assumptions are being made falsely.

[Flashheart]

True, but there are loads of similar ‘causes of death’ which are misleading.

My dad had stomach cancer but actually died of a heart attack shortly after being sent home to die. On his death certificate it is down as heart attack. These kind of anomalies make a lot statistics meaningless - even dangerous if certain assumptions are being made falsely.

Which is why so much of the focus has been paid to the number of excessive deaths - the increase in the number of people dying that is normal compared with previous years. And that number is significant. Significant enough to overload the hospitals.

[pauld]

The Office for National Stastics tally of deaths caused by Covid (so these are official govt figures) passed 150,000 last week, I believe excess deaths are broadly in line with that. It's marginally higher than the PHE figure the media quote because that has a 28-day cut off period. But both figures are quite devastating. The idea that this has been anything other than a national catastrophe is ludicrous.

[horlock07]

The Office for National Stastics tally of deaths caused by Covid (so these are official govt figures) passed 150,000 last week, I believe excess deaths are broadly in line with that. It's marginally higher than the PHE figure the media quote because that has a 28-day cut off period. But both figures are quite devastating. The idea that this has been anything other than a national catastrophe is ludicrous.

You would say that you *checks notes* 'hard left zealot'!

[The Artist Formerly Known as Audrey]

Since the beginning of March excess deaths are lower than the 5 year average. Maybe the vaccinations are protecting against more than just Covid.

[horlock07]

Since the beginning of March excess deaths are lower than the 5 year average. Maybe the vaccinations are protecting against more than just Covid.

Or maybe covid killed all the people who were in elderly or poor health (and thus would have died in normal circumstances this year) last year....

[pauld]

Since the beginning of March excess deaths are lower than the 5 year average. Maybe the vaccinations are protecting against more than just Covid.

No, it's down to lockdown and social distancing apparently
1) Less road deaths etc
2) Less flu deaths

(and horlock's reply above, forgot about that)

[Bob's Orange]

I see the vaccine is now open to people over 45. I'm in the next category so keeping a close eye on the NHS website so I can book mine.

Pretty sure a few people may now be eligible to get yourself booked up. (that's if you choose to get the vaccine of course)

[chalkies shorts]

Ordered the free lateral flow tests yesterday lunchtime, just got them in post now. Impressive.