#AI ChatGPT – OpenAI: If the mortality rate of a virus depends a lot of age, could transmitting data on total deaths without discriminating it by age be considered misinformation?

I asked OpenAI:

"Suppose a virus hits a nation, and to its authorities its evident that its mortality rate depends the most on age. In such a case, transmitting data to the population about the total number of deaths without discriminating this by age, could that be deemed to be misinformation?"

OpenAI answered:

"In the scenario you described, if the authorities have clear evidence that the mortality rate of the virus is significantly influenced by age, transmitting data about the total number of deaths without providing any information or context about age distribution could be considered incomplete or potentially misleading information.

In situations where age is a crucial factor in determining the impact of a virus, it is important to provide data that accurately reflects the different age groups affected and their corresponding mortality rates. Failing to provide this context could lead to misunderstandings or misinterpretations among the population.

To ensure effective communication and understanding, it would be advisable for authorities to provide data that includes age-specific mortality rates, along with comprehensive information about preventive measures, risk factors, and any other relevant details. This approach would allow individuals to better assess their own risk and take appropriate actions to protect themselves and others."

Why did I ask for the support of ChatGPT – OpenAI?

In March 2020 I tweeted:

“In February, I visited Churchill War Rooms in London Reading UK’s plans of building up herd immunity against coronavirus, I have a feeling Winston would have agreed with such stiff upper lip policy: “I have nothing to offer but fever, coughing, chills and shortness of breath”

https://twitter.com/PerKurowski/status/1241749198971850758?s=20

In July 2020, I tweeted:

“Sweden kept all schools until 9thgrade open. Parents of children in 9th grade are almost always less than 50 years of age. In Sweden, as of July 24, out of 5,687 Coronavirus deaths 71, 1.2%, were younger than 50 years.

Conclusion: Keep schools open, keep older teachers at home and have grandparents refrain from hugging their grandchildren. Disseminating data on COVID-19 without discriminating by age, is in essence misinformation.”

https://twitter.com/PerKurowski/status/1287748338440314881?s=20

October 2020 the Washington Post published a letter in which I opined:

“Roughly 90% of all coronavirus deaths will occur in those 60 years of age and older. 

Equally roughly 90% of the virus’s social and economic consequences will be paid by those younger than 60. It’s an intergenerational conflict of monstrous proportions."

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/letters-to-the-editor/would-pursuing-herd-immunity-be-worth-it/2020/10/20/05a4f250-0fd0-11eb-b404-8d1e675ec701_story.html

March 2021 I tweeted:

“Georges Clemenceau’s “War is too serious a matter to entrust to military men” could be updated to: A Covid-19 response ‘is too serious a matter to entrust’ to epidemiologist”

https://twitter.com/PerKurowski/status/1373976328001687552?s=20

On schools in COVID-19 times

Sweden kept all schools until 9th grade open. 

Parents of children in 9th grade are almost always less than 50 years of age. 

In Sweden, as of January 26, 2022, out of all 15,744 Coronavirus deaths, 239, 1.5%, were younger than 50 years; 98.5% older than 50. (under age of 20, 16 dead)

Based on that data the logical conclusion should be to keep schools open, keep older teachers at home and refrain grandparents from hugging their grandchildren.

 

In Sweden, 2020, up to 9th grade, including preschool, there were around 1.2 million students. On January 2022, two years with Covid, that results in 2 under 50 years of age Covid-19 deaths per 100.000 students. Compared to the many costs of keeping the youngest out of school, is that not significantly insignificant?

Disseminating data on new Covid-19 cases without data on hospitalizations / deaths or other serious consequences, discriminated by age, gender, race, location or other significant factors amounts to serious misinformation. That impedes citizens to cooperate with their own informed decisions.

Trust! In 2016 Swedish authorities issued my mother a driver license that would expire when she was 103 years of age. Asking about the wisdom of it, I was told Swedes were supposed to know when they were fit to drive or not. Does that not go for Covid-19 behavior/response too?

P.S. Some look to keep the elderly safe, but open up schools and the economy for the rest, so as to perhaps pursuit herd immunity. Other seem to want to impose even stricter lock downs. Could they instead be pursuing herd docility?

Tweets in times of Covid-19