On Covid (factual)
Deaths caused to date - 1218.
The lockdown has reduced what might have been a larger number
1/n
Number of patients in India - 26.9 lakh. Notified patients - 19.9 lakh
economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-…
Number of patients dying of TB in India - 4.2 lakh
indiaspend.com/indians-dying-…
3/n
4/n
business-standard.com/article/econom…
"Back-of-the-envelope calculations show that an estimated 5 million children might have missed out on vaccination in March, and those numbers are swelling in April."
5/n
2. Counterfactual cases do not get added into one total number and make it to the headlines.
6/n
4. The media latches on to the factual easily, and drums up attention, eventually relegating discussions of the counterfactual to obscure corners of the media.
7/n
I tried to take 2 examples w.r.t. Covid. There are more surely. In general, it is a useful way of evaluating issues.
n/n
newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/ma…
newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/ma…