Misleading NY Covid-19 Chart

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Hospitalizations.PNG

Thanks to Carl Quintanilla for posting this example of a misleading chart. New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has been lauded for his leadership during the coronavirus crisis, yet critics say one of the mainstay charts in his news conferences shows a skewed story.

When he shows this chart, Governor Cuomo describes, the decreasing numbers of new hospitalizations. The chart title is clear: “Change in Total Hospitalizations.” But what does the visual imply?

Similarly, he shows “Change in ICU Admissions” (approx.00:35 in the video).

Discussion:

  • Watch the first minute of the news conference. Is he clear, or could he be clearer in his explanation?

  • What’s your view of the two charts? Are they misleading? What are the possible consequences of showing the data in a misleading way?

  • How, if at all, should these charts be changed?