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Forum nameGeneral Discussion
Topic subjectI don't doubt the number, but it's not relevant.
Topic URLhttp://board.okayplayer.com/okp.php?az=show_topic&forum=4&topic_id=13383747&mesg_id=13385543
13385543, I don't doubt the number, but it's not relevant.
Posted by stravinskian, Tue May-26-20 11:44 AM
It's just reporters misunderstanding probability (intentionally or unintentionally) to write a story.

It looks like DC is averaging something like 10 deaths per day, with fluctuations of roughly 5. That means there will be days with zero deaths, and there will be days with 15 or 20 deaths.

They could cherrypick a day with zero deaths and give people the false impression that the threat is decreasing, or they could cherrypick a day with 20 deaths and give people the false impression that rates are doubling. And both stories would get clicks. I wouldn't be surprised if a single reporter had written both stories in the last week.