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FACT CHECK
293 ‘daily’ Covid deaths likely cover more than one day after technical issues
Following data released on 2 November, the UK reported another 293 Covid deaths. This is the highest number reported on a single day since 315 deaths were reported on 3 March.
However, some coverage of the statistics, including a report from the Daily Mirror, do not mention a key caveat which explains why the number is at the level it is, and why that may give an inflated indication of daily deaths.
The government’s coronavirus dashboard warns that figure potentially contains two days’ worth of data.
NHS England said: “Due to a technical fault, the system used to collect daily data on individuals who’ve died with COVID-19 in hospitals was offline on Sunday. As a result, the data over the next few days may be higher while the records are entered into the system.”
So while 293 deaths were reported in the daily figures on 2 November, that doesn’t necessarily mean 293 people died over the course of one day from Covid-19.
Even without technical issues, there is often a weekend lag in the figures. That’s why it’s more useful to take a seven day rolling average, rather than looking at one particular day.
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FULL FACT TRAINING
No Fear Data is back!
“The course did what it said it would - I don't have a fear of data or learning about data anymore and it has given me the confidence to keep learning about data step, by step. Thank you!”
— No Fear Data Graduate — September 2021
No Fear Data is about gaining confidence in using data and spreadsheets in your job and day-to-day life. Over three mornings, you'll be learning about the basics of how datasets are structured, how to plan a data analysis, how to use spreadsheets and pivot tables to answer questions about a dataset, and how to make compelling visualisations to summarise your work.
Led by our training manager and experienced tutor and fact checker Joseph O’Leary, the sessions will give you a chance to learn, practice new skills, and work in small teams to analyse data and report on what you learn.
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FACT CHECK
Did the French PM really ask for the EU to ‘punish’ the UK over Brexit?
Amid rising tensions between the UK and France in a row over fishing, the translation of a leaked letter sent from the French Prime Minister to the EU President has caused disagreement in the media. The Telegraph, the Express and LBC reported that the letter effectively called for the UK to be ”punished” for Brexit. Others, including the BBC, disagreed—though in some cases acknowledged it could be interpreted that way.
The key word appears to be “dommages” and there’s some debate over how best to translate it. We spoke to three French speakers—a researcher, a journalist and an academic—who all said they believe “dommages” is most accurately translated as “drawbacks” or “disadvantages” rather than “damages”.
However Dr Edward Arnold, Professor of French at Trinity College Dublin, did translate “dommages” as “damaging” in a translation produced for Irish fact checkers.
The letter goes on to ask that if a satisfactory solution cannot be found, the EU should introduce tariffs. So although the word “punish” isn’t used explicitly, this could be seen to amount to punishing the UK, whether fairly or unfairly, which may explain some of the headlines prompted by the letter.
Whether this would be punishment for Brexit itself, or for failing to, in the French view, meet the terms of the Brexit settlement—and whether those are separate things—is a matter of interpretation.
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