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Statistics have been key in tracking the spread of COVID-19. But as a former data journalist, I’ve been frustrated and overwhelmed with the volume and questionable data reporting we’ve seen from states and the federal government.
Those issues have also led to the spread of coronavirus misinformation.
Flawed claims that the seasonal flu has killed more people than COVID-19 have circulated around the internet for a while now.
But now a post on Facebook claims the opposite: that no Americans have died from the flu in 2020.
The May 16 post reads: “Not one American died from the Flu this year – 1st time in history BUT 80K died from COVID. Do you really believe the bull—- they’re shoving down your throat. I DON’T!!!”
This is wrong.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention tracks flu illnesses, medical visits, hospitalizations and deaths and provides estimated ranges of each category. Because the agency can’t track each case of influenza through its weekly surveillance data, it provides an estimated range to “reflect the larger burden,” its website says.
According to preliminary CDC data, there were anywhere from 24,000 to 62,000 American flu deaths from Oct. 1, 2019, through April 4, 2020. As of May 16, reported pediatric flu deaths for the 2019-20 influenza season were at 176.
Click here to read the full fact-check.
Is the coronavirus more dangerous than the flu?
According to this post being shared on Facebook, COVID-19 is more dangerous than the average flu. MediaWise dug into the science. It’s Mostly Legit. Check it out»
Trump claims “cases, numbers and deaths” of COVID-19 going down across the country
Nationally, the data show a shrinking number of new daily infections and deaths. That downward pattern is also being mirrored in many states. Some states are bucking the pattern and seeing a rising number of new daily cases over time. Read the fact-check»
Did three protesters pretend to be crucified to protest coronavirus restrictions?
No. An image of three men appearing on wooden crosses à la Jesus Christ outside a McDonald’s restaurant is actually from two years ago. Get the facts»
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Alex Mahadevan is a senior multimedia reporter at MediaWise. He can be reached at amahadevan@poynter.org or on Twitter at @AlexMahadevan. Follow MediaWise on TikTok.
