General Discussion
Related: Editorials & Other Articles, Issue Forums, Alliance Forums, Region ForumsIs there any data on the actual number of cases?
So few tests, and they find it wherever they test. Any extrapolations out there on the real numbers?
CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)Due to lack of testing and the lies from China about how many actually died and have tested positive, it is a guessing game.
I rather think we are on our own!
edhopper
(33,615 posts)if they have done about 40,000 tests. Can they guess what the results mean for the total population?
CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)It would help a lot if they had honest info. provided.
How many died in China?
What was the story with people dropping dead on the street? Is this happening here too? Do we know?
40,000 is a very good sample size and provides a lot of help. I do not dismiss it.
But again, what about other countries we hear nothing about like Russia, etc.?
It is difficult to compare population groups with flawed or manipulated results.
We've had plenty of inadequate and flawed info. here in the USA to say the least.
Is it too little too late? That is my fear.
edhopper
(33,615 posts)but no one is reporting what that means for the larger population. Only the confirmed cases.
CountAllVotes
(20,878 posts)Who is in the sample?
Those exhibiting symptoms or those that are not exhibiting symptoms?
We are not getting the statistics.
With flawed statistics, no matter how large the sample size may be, it is fairly useless I am sorry to say.
We do not know what the facts are, that is the problem.
For example, my friend called me last night. His friend in Seattle is sick and her grandchild is sick. She went to the doctor and has all of the symptoms of COVID and they tested her but she will not have the results for 2 weeks she was told.
As for the sick baby, they are hoping it will get better but it has not been tested nor have any of the others in the household.
If she has COVID she is contaminating everyone around her and she MUST be in quarantine and so should the baby and all that have had contact with her and the baby too.
While she awaits the results, she is spreading the disease if she is not in self-isolation which she is not doing!
In the meantime, we have flawed statistics and a flawed sample and no controlled studies that will stand the test of accuracy. Huge problem = accuracy and TRUTH!
edhopper
(33,615 posts)now more depressed than when i wrote the OP.
Lulu KC
(2,574 posts)If I come across any serious extrapolation as I obsessively follow the news about it today, I'll bring it back to you!
Lulu KC
(2,574 posts)Obviously many variables that are different from us, but interesting.
https://www.buzzfeed.com/albertonardelli/coronavirus-testing-iceland
OnDoutside
(19,970 posts)is extrapolated to the USA, which is about 9,500 today, well you don't have to be a math genius to work out that it will be over 300,000 in 3 weeks time (possibly worse as the US is so ill prepared). And that could be (best case) 3000 deaths.
edhopper
(33,615 posts)how many are there who haven't been tested? What is the ratio?
OnDoutside
(19,970 posts)Ms. Toad
(34,087 posts)for every confirmed positive.
Make7
(8,543 posts)To extrapolate a sample of test subjects to the overall population would likely require a large sample (+1,000) of random subjects. At this point, with the shortage of tests, most of the tests are only done on people exhibiting symptoms.
Here's an interesting article about trying to determine an actual number:
https://www.propublica.org/article/how-many-americans-are-really-infected-with-the-coronavirus