Michael Baum

Six reasons why it’s a mistake to compare countries’ coronavirus figures

I was inspired to write this piece by a chart made by the historian James Barr. It showed, in the style of the Financial Times’ graphs of coronavirus cases and fatalities in different countries, a comparison of ‘Apples, Pears and Rhubarb’. What was meant as satire perfectly summed up why it is so unwise to compare coronavirus outcomes in different countries. 

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Written by
Michael Baum
Michael Baum is Professor Emeritus of Surgery and visiting Professor of Medical Humanities at University College London

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