Lies, damn lies and statistics

Why you should view the Coronavirus figures presented with a degree of scepticism

The same population but by testing fewer people the number infected seems smaller and by only counting those in the sample that have died the death rate seems smaller.

Different governments have adopted different approaches to testing and reporting numbers making comparisons between countries difficult if not impossible.

In the U.K. we have tested fewer of the population which gives the impression of lower numbers infected and in terms of death; by only considering those testing positive who die in hospital gives the impression of a lower death rate.