Wrongheaded
graph

March 3, 2020 -- I have seen this graph copied and pasted into numerous web sites and emails about the coronavirus.

It comes from the CDC. What is it attempting to tell us?

The obvious message is, use protection (social distancing, hand washing, etc.) No one disagrees with that. But the graph itself is flawed and thus serves as little more than propaganda for the unwary.

What are its flaws? Firstly, what are the axes? Time (horizontal) versus number of infections (vertical). But what are the units? We are not told. The time could be days or years; the graph is purposefully vague. This makes it useless in telling us what to expect.

A deeper flaw is, with protection (the gray curve) we are supposed to see that the pandemic lasts longer but infects fewer each day. Why would it last longer? The implication is that the number of infections is somehow constant and, if we protect ourselves, it is spread out over a longer period of time and thus does not overwhelm our healthcare facilities, a worthy goal. But why should the number of infections be a constant? Indeed, if fewer transmissions occur, wouldn't that number be reduced? Isn't that the goal?

I conclude that this graph is -- though not intentionally -- misleading and of little use. So stop copying and pasting it, folks!

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