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I've been using the http://gov.uk tracker for COVID19 to keep tabs on the national situation and, whilst I wouldn't necessarily call these figures entirely accurate, it's only just occurred to me how much the page itself is built to deceive.
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
https://coronavirus.data.gov.uk/
Right at the top is the most important information, how many new cases and how many new deaths. The totals are useful but not as much for gauging the current situation, of course. But the key to a layman interpretation is always going to be the graphs. Line go down? Good.
Now the graphs here have been giving me pause for weeks, because the situation here is atrocious, but the graphs keep showing things are actually okay. Which doesn't make sense, because those numbers at the top have been pretty consistent all the while.
And then I realised: The graph for number of daily cases shows numbers WAY lower than the header displays.
Because it only shows lab-confirmed cases. And labs have been under-supported for this entire pandemic.
Because it only shows lab-confirmed cases. And labs have been under-supported for this entire pandemic.
In other words, the part of this page most readily understood by the majority of the public is deliberately using data that makes it seem like the pandemic in the UK is almost entirely gone. And the only part of the page that gives better data is just one set of numbers per day.
The only way for the public to actually have a more accurate picture of the situation is personally track the numbers at the top of the page, day-by-day, and properly interpret them. Which though not impossible, is a lot to ask when "oh hey, they give you the graphs right here!"
