Statistics Versus A Single Ray of Sunshine

It seems as if the whole world has gone a bit crazy about the COVID-19 virus. I've got to assume that's because it seems to be so easily transmissible, because realistically, the flu kills more people annually than this virus. Of course, there's also a variety of vaccines available for the flu, but nothing really developed yet for the COVID-19, but that's just a matter of time. Still, the highest rates for mortality hinge around the age of the person contracting the illness. Take a look at the chart below. 

COVID-19 Fatality Rate by AGE:

*Death Rate = (number of deaths / number of cases) = probability of dying if infected by the virus (%). This probability differs depending on the age group. The percentages shown below do not have to add up to 100%, as they do NOT represent share of deaths by age group. Rather, it represents, for a person in a given age group, the risk of dying if infected with COVID-19.

AGE	DEATH RATE confirmed cases	DEATH RATE all cases
80+ years old	21.9%	14.8%
70-79 years old		8.0%
60-69 years old		3.6%
50-59 years old		1.3%
40-49 years old		0.4%
30-39 years old		0.2%
20-29 years old		0.2%
10-19 years old		0.2%
0-9 years old		no fatalities

*Death Rate = (number of deaths / number of cases) = probability of dying if infected by the virus (%). The percentages do not have to add up to 100%, as they do NOT represent share of deaths by age group.

As you can see, as you are older, your mortality chances increase. Right now, I guess it doesn't really pay to be a senior citizen, but then, those of us who are in that age bracket really didn't have much of a say in when we would be born or what variety of illness might be around to bring us down. Apparently it also helps to be female, although why that might make a difference isn't really clear. Still, the statistics are bearing this out.

COVID-19 Fatality Rate by SEX:

*Death Rate = (number of deaths / number of cases) = probability of dying if infected by the virus (%). This probability differs depending on sex. When reading these numbers, it must be taken into account that smoking in China is much more prevalent among males. Smoking increases the risks of respiratory complications.

SEX	DEATH RATE confirmed cases	DEATH RATE all cases
Male	4.7%	2.8%
Female	2.8%	1.7%

*Death Rate = (number of deaths / number of cases) = probability of dying if infected by the virus (%). The percentages do not have to add up to 100%, as they do NOT represent share of deaths by sex.

We're being inundated from all sides now. COVID-19 on the one side, the precipitous fall of the stock market on the other. It's doom and gloom and it's taking over the airwaves. So I've got a single request for all of us. Let's all take a deep breath, let it out slowly, and allow ourselves to think about some positive things today. The news might be focused on lots of terrible things, and they will ripple through all communities - we're all affected in some way or another - but we don't have to succumb to the negativity. We can still smile at others. We can still brighten a single person's life in some way. By doing that simple act of kindness, we've opened the clouds to one ray of sunshine. If enough of us do this, we'll dispel a lot of the gloom. 

Have an excellent Tuesday. I get to see my accountant for our personal income tax prep tonight. Oh joy. The best thing is, however, that if I forgot to bring something along, I can easily drop it off tomorrow morning, so no major delays in getting the darned thing done and into the system. I'll be back tomorrow - enjoy your day!