UK stats are "entirely different"

Wednesday 08 April 2020

Public Health is urging people in Guernsey to stop comparing the island's covid-19 statistics with those of the UK.

Both jurisdictions have taken different approaches towards testing patients and recording data, such as the number of deaths caused by corona virus.

Although some people in the island have taken to social media to voice their concerns about how the two jurisdictions' stats compare, the States are encouraging the community not to, as the results aren't an accurate representation of the situation.

"There are a lot of comparisons about statistics," said President of Policy & Resources, Deputy Gavin St Pier. "People say, by head of population, Guernsey has a high number of cases or a high number of deaths, but we're not really comparing apples with apples because of the different testing regimes and the way we measure stats."

Pictured: Guernsey's statistics.

While it may appear that the island has more covid-related deaths per capita than the UK, this is partly down to the difference in the way Public Health is recording data.

At the moment, the UK is only counting a corona virus death if the patient was in hospital when they passed away - that doesn't include those in care homes. But, the Bailiwick is recording all deaths in the community.

Guernsey has also chosen to take more precaution in its approach to testing, with a wider spread scheme leading to more positive results..

"The care homes aren't being tested in the UK, they're just presumptive deaths," said Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink. "It's entirely different.

"If we were now reporting on hospital only cases [of corona virus] we would be reporting on seven, which is very different to the 166 we've said.

"Unfortunately, the death rate also varies among different age groups. You've got to take all of that into account when you look at the impact on a particular community."

The UK currently has 55,242 confirmed cases of covid-19, while Guernsey has 166.

Pictured top: Director of Public Health, Dr Nicola Brink.