BS, damned BS, and media reporting statistical BS
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There are times when I despair that some (most?) of the mainstream media are living in a far-away fantasy land, perhaps only a heel-click or two away from Wonderland, Oz, or Neverneverland.
Case in point, a related-story-link on RNZ on 31 December - linking to a story on RNZ time-stamped/dated 7:59 pm on 2 July 2021 - reporting on The Economist's "normalcy index," which ranked nations by how much they "returned to normal" during the pandemic:
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According to this "index", Aotearoa ranked second, at 87%. Hong Kong topped the rankings at 96%.
Which is bizarre when comparing the reported death toll from both countries.
By 2 July 2021, Hong Kong’s death toll attributed to covid19 had reached 211:
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At the same time, Aotearoa’s covid19 death toll stood at 26.
Currently, reported deaths from both have reached:
Hong Kong: 14,367
Aotearoa: 5,251 (Ministry of Health reported deaths: 3,645)
Comparing the "Worldometer" figures (ie, "apples with apples") with respective populations:
Hong Kong: 7,494,156
Aotearoa: 5,249,068
So for a population half again greater than ours - Hong Kong's death toll (as at the beginning of this year) is nearly THREE TIMES higher than ours. This is considered sufficiently "normal" by The Economist to merit Hong Hong to rank higher than Aotearoa?
The index was supposedly determined by "eight variables - sports attendance, time at home, traffic congestion, retail footfall, office occupancy, flights, film box office and public transport". No mention of illness; hospital occupancy; and deaths.
But sports attendance and film box office both rated a mention as critical variables.
You couldn't make up this absurdity unless it was a skit from comedy satire. This "index" and the "eight variables" would sit well alongside Monty Python's [Flying Circus] Ministry of Silly Walks.
But worse still, RNZ republished the "index" without any critical commentary from Health sector leaders; health professionals, et al. It was presented without analysis; without consideration as to it's merit; nor whether it even made sense. The un-named writer did however state;
"Auckland was also recently named the world's most liveable city by the Economist Intelligence Unit recently and Wellington fourth most liveable, with the elimination of Covid-19 in the community a driving factor in that decision."
"The elimination of Covid-19 in the community"?! With dozens of people dying from covid19-attributable causes every week?
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It is difficult to reconcile any suggestion of "eliminating of Covid-19 in the community" with reality. Grieving families might have their own response to any such notion. Especially the family of a child under ten, who died with the virus, as reported in late November last year.
No wonder the RNZ story on 31 December was not attributed. I wouldn’t put my name to puerile rubbish like that either.
Unfortunately it would not be the only pandemic-related garbage that many in the news media presented to their audience as "newsworthy".
Sadly, I believe it may not be the last.
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References
RNZ: Covid-19 - New Zealand ranks second in 'return to normal' ranking
Wikipedia: Timeline of the COVID-19 pandemic in New Zealand (2021)
Worldometer: China, Hong Kong SAR Coronavirus
Worldometer: New Zealand Coronavirus
Te Whatu Ora Health NZ: COVID-19 - Current cases
Worldometer: Hong Kong Population
Worldometer: New Zealand Population
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 7417 new cases, 27 further deaths
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 7880 new cases, 27 further deaths
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 6656 new cases, 20 deaths
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 6814 new cases, 27 deaths including child under 10
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 7881 new cases, 20 deaths in week to 19 November
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 5947 new cases, 5 deaths in week to 12 November
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 5872 new cases, 19 deaths in past week
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 3934 new cases, 29 deaths attributed to virus
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 4018 new cases, 23 deaths attributed to virus
RNZ: Covid-19 update - 3816 new cases, 17 deaths attributed to virus
Other blogposts
Nick Rockel: Memories of the two-year covid safety struggle – it was worth it
Related blogposts
The Microbiologist, the Caretaker Leader, and some Nasty Germs
One thousand dead New Zealanders per year?
The Virus, the Media, and John Key
Business and Media pimp for dodgy covid test. Govt caves. Questions Remain.
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Acknowledgement: Jeff Bell
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= fs =
It starts to ‘make sense’ if you accept that these stories are produced with ‘business’ as their focus - pretend it is Simon Bridges doing an opinion piece.
Well said, and why does it take the alternative media to state these obvious facts. RNZ should be more careful.