TC, I'm having trouble understanding the working definition of the oft-repeated term, "excess death rates." I realized about a third of the way through that I literally don't know what that means. "Excess" as compared to what?
And thanks for the attention to this very basic dynamic of the ways in which human communities respond to plagues, and the terrible consequences of some of our choices.
TC, I'm having trouble understanding the working definition of the oft-repeated term, "excess death rates." I realized about a third of the way through that I literally don't know what that means. "Excess" as compared to what?
And thanks for the attention to this very basic dynamic of the ways in which human communities respond to plagues, and the terrible consequences of some of our choices.
I am supposed to know the answer to your question (good ole public health nurse, ret.), but I had to look it up to be sure:
"Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between the observed numbers of deaths in specific time periods and expected numbers of deaths in the same time periods."
Thanks, MaryPat, I knew it had to be a statistics-particular term but for some reason I couldn't rattle my brain hard enough to figure it out. Now that you explain it, it seems obvious and the only mystery remaining is why I didn't look it up myself.
The other mystery is that I am relaxing this afternoon by sitting here reading about a pandemic
Dean, I doubt you have the CDC on speed dial like this "Nurse in the Family" does! I, too, think I need to get a real (relaxing) life - between TC & HCR I am reading "Lady Justice" by Dahlia Lithwick. Spellbinding accounts of female lawyers who work to defend democracy against trumpfuckery (I can say that descriptor on TC's site, but not HCR's).
TC, I'm having trouble understanding the working definition of the oft-repeated term, "excess death rates." I realized about a third of the way through that I literally don't know what that means. "Excess" as compared to what?
And thanks for the attention to this very basic dynamic of the ways in which human communities respond to plagues, and the terrible consequences of some of our choices.
I am supposed to know the answer to your question (good ole public health nurse, ret.), but I had to look it up to be sure:
"Excess deaths are typically defined as the difference between the observed numbers of deaths in specific time periods and expected numbers of deaths in the same time periods."
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm#:~:text=Excess%20deaths%20are%20typically%20defined,in%20the%20same%20time%20periods.
Thank you Nurse MaryPat for your successful intervention here. :-)
You are welcome. My bill's in the (e)mail!
Thanks, MaryPat, I knew it had to be a statistics-particular term but for some reason I couldn't rattle my brain hard enough to figure it out. Now that you explain it, it seems obvious and the only mystery remaining is why I didn't look it up myself.
The other mystery is that I am relaxing this afternoon by sitting here reading about a pandemic
You're engaging in an activity Clarence Darrow once described thus: "I have never killed a man, but I have read some obituaries with great relish."
Another fav
Dean, I doubt you have the CDC on speed dial like this "Nurse in the Family" does! I, too, think I need to get a real (relaxing) life - between TC & HCR I am reading "Lady Justice" by Dahlia Lithwick. Spellbinding accounts of female lawyers who work to defend democracy against trumpfuckery (I can say that descriptor on TC's site, but not HCR's).
Glad for the recommendation. I have heard good things about that book.
Excellent review of Lithwick's book here. https://www.harvard.com/book/lady_justice/