Hitch and the Toad

July 16, 2020 Longrider Civil Liberties, General News, General Rants, Health and Fitness, misanthropy, Political 4

Matt Hancock being the lying toad in question.

Sales assistants are significantly more likely to die from coronavirus, Matt Hancock told MPs today as he confirmed face masks would become mandatory in shops and supermarkets. The Health Secretary said the Covid-19 death rate among male shop workers is 75% higher than the general population, and 60% higher in women, underlining the urgent need for face coverings in public to protect the spread of coronavirus.

This screamed bullshit as soon as I read it, as it was so obviously a lie. I was going to do the fact checking, but realised that Hitch got there before me. That 75% of shop workers figure is indeed bullshit. They have been selective about the figures they use – ignoring the majority of deaths that are outside working age.

Let us take a look at it. Actually, the figures are restricted to working age Covid deaths, and, while every death is a tragedy, the actual numbers involved in the entire survey referenced here are comparatively small. This is because Covid-19 deaths are concentrated in the over 65s rather than among working-age persons.

Lies, damned lies and statistics, eh? After all, 75% of next to nothing is, er, next to nothing…

4 Comments

  1. “…75% of next to nothing is…next to nothing”

    Exactly like the stat that was used to justify the smoking ban where they presented a heightened relative risk of 25% without ever disclosing that the absolute risk was next to nothing.

  2. Said 2 days ago to legiron that this is clearly make it up as you go along shite.

    As many have posted in several places the staff in my local small supermarkets are exactly the same individuals as 4 months ago, nobody has disappeared or been replaced despite being constantly ‘exposed’ to large numbers of people.

    Hitchs’ comments also apply to outbreaks on farms (because dormitories) and at food processing plants (because cold) where even if 100% test positive (which they won’t because T cells and stuff) none are likely to die because they are all relatively young (working) and fit (likewise).

    Handcock clearly needs the same treatment as Failed Grayling.

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