Read on Twitter
THREAD: So I just compared 20 years of (available) flu data with COVID-19 in Erie County, PA.
Here's the ugly chart, first draft. Enlarge to see details.
-[CHART LEGEND]-
GREEN: Cases of the Flu
(Sep 2000/Sep 2001 through Sep 2019/Sep 2020)
PINK: Cases of COVID-19
(Mar 2020 through Dec 2020)
WHITE: Deaths from the Flu
(Sep 2000/Sep 2001 through Sep 2019/Sep 2020)
YELLOW: Deaths from COVID-19
(Mar 2020 through Dec 2020)
GREEN: Cases of the Flu
(Sep 2000/Sep 2001 through Sep 2019/Sep 2020)
PINK: Cases of COVID-19
(Mar 2020 through Dec 2020)
WHITE: Deaths from the Flu
(Sep 2000/Sep 2001 through Sep 2019/Sep 2020)
YELLOW: Deaths from COVID-19
(Mar 2020 through Dec 2020)
KEY TAKEAWAYS: there were 74 deaths from the flu in Erie County in the past 20 years, and currently there are 150 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 9 months.
The flu in a 12-month period, at most has had 4,550 cases, but averages 2,743 cases over the past 5 years, and currently there are 8,405 cases of COVID-19 in the past 9 months.
I have only found flu hospitalization data for years 2010-2015 and 2016-2020, with a total of 1,226 flu hospitalizations over those combined years, or an average of 136 flu hospitalizations per year.
In contrast, we have been averaging a daily (and growing) hospitalization census of over 100 since Thanksgiving. I do not yet have the "unique hospitalizations for COVID-19" data but based on the nature/hospitalizations of the disease it is likely gargantuan in comparison.
On average, Erie County has 2,787 deaths from all causes. 2019 and 2020 death data has not been finalized, nor has the 2019/2020 flu data or the current 2020/2021 flu data for obvious reasons.
If you viewed combined flu and pneumonia deaths, they average out to about 58 deaths per year, for a total of 1,109 combined deaths from 2000 to 2018.
I'll figure out how to make it prettier later. I'm going to go make myself a drink. Feel free to AMA.
Okay I’m ready, AMA
A tad bit more friendly to the eye. Not a polished version... more like a Beta 1.01 Flu vs COVID19 in Erie County, PA
Newer—and much nicer—flu vs coronavirus infographic coming this morning once this weekend's numbers are released. Stand by.
