Every day we are swamped with statistics marking the deadly march of coronavirus across the world.
Too much for us to take in but more than enough to instil fear, and drastic action by governments.
The figures still mount day by day.
Here is a snapshot of the hold the pandemic has on us.
The global picture:
15,785644 cases, 640,008 deaths.
In one day the toll has risen by 74,000 in the USA, 55,000 in Brazil, 48,000 in India.
China, where it all started, just 179 new cases.
Here in the UK the total number of cases is touching 300,000, 45,472 deaths.
In Wales, 1,485 deaths have been recorded.
The UK has fared badly so far; third highest death toll after Brazil and the USA with an even worse record, the highest proportion of deaths per population.
The good news is that generally the rate of cases and deaths has dropped steadily, allowing governments to ease restrictions and try to get life and economies back on track. No deaths in Wales for days now.
But that is not the end of the story, with local and area outbreaks - the so called second wave? - in many countries.
Governments and the public have to be vigilant and careful if the progress made against the virus is to continue.
And what of the overall picture. What is the risk of catching or dying from coronavirus?
Actually, very slim. I make it one 20,000.
I am no mathematician and I may be wrong.
How did I work that out? The total world population is 7.5 billion.
Coronavirus has killed 640,000.
Try the sum. See if you agree.
According to statisticians, the chance of being killed in a road accident in Britain in any one year is 1 in 11,000, but, almost unbelievably, the chance in a lifetime is just 1 in 270.
Something to think about.
No comments:
Post a Comment