Logo
    Search

    Podcast Summary

    • Businesses prioritize customers with quality and convenienceBurrow offers modular, durable seating with easy assembly, fast free shipping, and a Memorial Day sale. Blue Nile provides a wide jewelry selection, fast shipping, and free returns for Mother's Day gifts.

      Both Burrow Furniture and Blue Nile prioritize their customers, offering high-quality products and convenient services. Burrow's modular and durable seating comes with easy assembly, disassembly, and fast free shipping, while their Memorial Day sale offers significant discounts. Blue Nile provides a wide selection of stunning jewelry, fast shipping options, and free returns for Mother's Day gifts. Meanwhile, in the news, Dr. Natalie McDermott from King's College London updated us on the rapidly changing situation with the COVID-19 outbreak. The number of cases and deaths in China saw a significant increase due to a change in the case definition for confirmed COVID-19 cases in Hubei province and Wuhan. This revision led to a substantial increase in reported figures, adding to the uncertainty surrounding the spread of the virus. The situation remains fluid, and we continue to monitor the developments closely. In essence, businesses like Burrow and Blue Nile focus on providing value to their customers, while the COVID-19 situation continues to evolve with new information and challenges.

    • Concerns over accuracy of COVID-19 data in ChinaChanges in reporting methods and time lag between infection and death may impact COVID-19 data accuracy in China, potentially affecting response strategies.

      The reliability of the reported data on COVID-19 cases and deaths in China has been a source of confusion, with concerns raised about potential inaccuracies due to changes in reporting methods and a time lag between infection and death. Dr. McDermott, who was interviewed on the matter, suggested that the large drops and increases in daily reported cases could be due to various reasons, including changes in testing capacity and case definition. Ian, a listener, added to the discussion by pointing out that the reported death rate of 2% for COVID-19 might be a false statistic due to a time lag between infection and death. According to Ian's analysis, the real death rate could be somewhere between 6% and 18%. These concerns highlight the importance of transparent and accurate reporting of data during public health crises to inform effective response strategies.

    • Mortality rate of COVID-19 can be lower than initially calculatedThe overall mortality rate for COVID-19 is estimated to be around 1% when accounting for mild cases that go unreported.

      The estimated death rate for COVID-19 can be significantly lower than initially calculated if we account for mild cases that go unreported. The speaker explained that Ian's calculation is correct in principle, but in practice, the spreadsheet doesn't include all cases. The mortality rate for hospitalized patients in Wuhan is around 18%, but when accounting for mild cases that are never tested, the overall mortality rate is estimated to be around 1%. However, this unknown entity of mild cases is a challenge in determining the exact mortality rate. It's important to note that we are not yet in a pandemic stage, as significant outbreaks have not occurred consistently on all continents.

    • COVID-19's unique characteristics make it a significant public health threatDespite a lower mortality rate, COVID-19's ease of transmission during the incubation period and potential for widespread transmission increase the likelihood of more total deaths compared to past outbreaks like SARS and MERS.

      COVID-19 is more concerning than past outbreaks like SARS and MERS due to its ease of transmission during the incubation period when people may not yet be showing symptoms. This makes it harder to contain and could lead to a larger number of total deaths, even though the mortality rate is lower than those past outbreaks. The speaker also noted that SARS was more deadly but less contagious, while bird flu is less contagious but more deadly. With COVID-19, both the mortality rate and ease of transmission are causes for concern, making it a significant public health threat. The ongoing localized transmission in Singapore and potential spread to other continents increases the likelihood that it will be classified as a pandemic. Overall, the speaker emphasized the importance of taking measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19 due to its unique characteristics compared to past outbreaks.

    • Following public health guidelines protects vulnerable individuals and slows down the spread of COVID-19Individual actions like washing hands, staying home when sick, and avoiding public transport when ill, along with collective efforts, can help protect vulnerable individuals and slow down the spread of COVID-19, making a significant difference in controlling its impact.

      While the COVID-19 virus is contagious and has a case fatality rate around 1%, it's essential to take individual and collective actions to prevent its spread. Dr. Natalie McDermott from King's College London emphasized the importance of following public health guidelines, such as washing hands, staying home when feeling unwell, and avoiding public transport when sick. These actions help protect vulnerable individuals in the population and slow down the spread of the virus. The uncertainty surrounding the case fatality rate underscores the need for continued efforts to develop treatments and vaccines. In summary, taking preventative measures seriously and working together can make a significant difference in controlling the virus's impact.

    • Exploring Flexible Health Insurance Options with UnitedHealthcareUnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans offer flexibility for various life situations, including job transitions, self-employment, and missed open enrollment periods. Visit uhone.com to explore these options and find a plan that fits your unique needs.

      UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans offer flexibility for various life situations. These plans can be suitable if you're currently between jobs, transitioning off your parents' plan, turning a side hustle into a full-time business, or even missed the open enrollment period. By visiting uhone.com, you can explore these options further and find a plan that fits your unique needs. These plans offer the convenience and peace of mind that comes with having health insurance coverage, even during life's unexpected twists and turns. So, if you're looking for flexibility and reliable health insurance, consider exploring UnitedHealthcare Insurance Plans.

    Recent Episodes from More or Less: Behind the Stats

    Election endings, tennis and meeting men in finance

    Election endings, tennis and meeting men in finance

    Are Labour right about employment? Are the Conservatives right about cutting NHS managers? Are the Lib Dems right about share buyback? Are Reform UK right about their tax plans?

    How do they make the exit poll so accurate?

    What are the odds of meeting a very tall man in finance (with a trust fund)?

    What does it mean that Roger Federer only won 54% of the points he played?

    Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Nathan Gower, Beth Ashmead Latham and Debbie Richford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

    How a tick box doubled the US maternal mortality rates.

    How a tick box doubled the US maternal mortality rates.

    he US has been portrayed as in the grip of a maternal mortality crisis. In contrast to most other developed nations, the rate of maternal deaths in the US has been going up since the early 2000s.

    But why? With the help of Saloni Dattani, a researcher at Our World in Data, Tim Harford explores how a gradual change in the way the data was gathered lies at the heart of the problem.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Producer: Debbie Richford Production Co-ordinator: Brenda Brown Series Producer: Tom Colls Sound Mix: Emma Harth Editor: Richard Vadon

    Election claims and erection claims

    Election claims and erection claims

    Are Labour right about the Liz Truss effect on mortgages? Are the Conservatives right about pensioners? Are Plaid Cymru right about spending? Are the Lib Dems right about care funding? Is Count Binface right about croissants?

    Why are MRP polls coming up with such different numbers?

    Do erections require a litre of blood?

    Tim Harford investigates the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Simon Tulett, Nathan Gower, Beth Ashmead Latham and Debbie Richford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Rod Farquhar Editor: Richard Vadon

    Do ‘pig butchering’ cyber scams make as much as half Cambodia’s GDP?

    Do ‘pig butchering’ cyber scams make as much as half Cambodia’s GDP?

    So-called “pig butchering” scams take billions of dollars from people around the globe. But do the cyber scams run from compounds in Cambodia really take an amount of money equivalent to half that country’s GDP? We investigate how the scale of these criminal operations has been calculated.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Andrew Garratt Editor: Richard Vadon

    Worse mortgages, better readers, and potholes on the moon

    Worse mortgages, better readers, and potholes on the moon

    Will Conservative policies raise mortgages by £4800, as Labour claim? Are primary school kids in England the best readers in the (western) world, as the Conservatives claim? Are there more potholes in the UK than craters on the moon?

    Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Nathan Gower, Simon Tullet Beth Ashmead-Latham and Debbie Richford Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    Shakespeare’s maths

    Shakespeare’s maths

    AWilliam Shakespeare might well rank as the most influential writer in the English language. But it seems he also had a knack for numbers.

    Rob Eastaway, author of Much Ado about Numbers, tells Tim Harford about the simple maths that brings Shakespeare’s work to life.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Readings: Stella Harford and Jordan Dunbar Producer: Beth Ashmead-Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: James Beard Editor: Richard Vadon

    Leaflets, taxes, oil workers and classrooms

    Leaflets, taxes, oil workers and classrooms

    What’s going on with the dodgy bar charts that political parties put on constituency campaign leaflets?

    What’s the truth about tax promises?

    Are 100,000 oil workers going to lose their jobs in Scotland?

    Will class sizes increase in state schools if private schools increase their fees?

    Tim Harford investigates some of the numbers in the news.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporter: Kate Lamble Producers: Nathan Gower, Beth Ashmead-Latham, Debbie Richford Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Neil Churchill Editor: Richard Vadon

    Why medical error is not the third leading cause of death in the US

    Why medical error is not the third leading cause of death in the US

    The claim that medical error is the third leading cause of death in the US has been zooming around the internet for years.

    This would mean that only heart disease and cancer killed more people than the very people trying to treat these diseases.

    But there are good reasons to be suspicious about the claim.

    Professor Mary Dixon-Woods, director of The Healthcare Improvement Studies Institute, or THIS Institute, at Cambridge University, explains what’s going on.

    Presenter: Tim Harford Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Sound mix: Nigel Appleton Editor: Richard Vadon

    Debate, Reform, tax evasion and ants

    Debate, Reform, tax evasion and ants

    Were there any suspicious claims in the election debate between Rishi Sunak and Keir Starmer?

    Do the claims in Reform UK’s policy documents on excess deaths and climate change make sense?

    Can the Conservatives and Labour raise £6bn a year by cracking down on tax avoidance and evasion?

    And do all the humans on earth weigh more than all of the ants?

    Presenter: Tim Harford Reporters: Kate Lamble and Nathan Gower Producer: Beth Ashmead-Latham Series producer: Tom Colls Production coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

    Data for India

    Data for India

    India’s election has been running since 19 April. With results imminent on 4th June, More or Less talks with Chennai based data communicator Rukmini S. She founded Data for India, a new website designed to make socioeconomic data on India easier to find and understand. She talks us through the changing trends to help give a better picture of the type of country the winning party will govern.

    Producers: Bethan Ashmead and Nathan Gower Sound Engineer: Nigel Appleton Production Coordinator: Brenda Brown Editor: Richard Vadon

    Related Episodes

    Quick Tip: How Many Steps Should You Take in a Day for Better Health and Weight Loss?

    Quick Tip: How Many Steps Should You Take in a Day for Better Health and Weight Loss?

    Sponsored by Centrapeak: https://centrapeak.com/#ref=63d16332251e5
    Promo Code: Redefine20
    #centrapeak 

    In this quick tip episode, we explore the topic of daily steps and how many you should aim for to maintain good health. Did you know that the average American takes only 5,000 steps per day? And did you know that increasing your daily step count can have a significant impact on your overall health?

    We start by discussing what a step is and how it's measured, including the average number of steps per mile. Then, we dive into the research on daily step counts and their relationship to mortality, heart health, and weight loss. For example, did you know that increasing your daily steps from 2,700 to 4,400 can result in a 41% lower mortality rate? And that taking 7,500 steps per day is considered an active lifestyle, while 15,000 steps per day is ideal for weight loss?

    Whether you're looking to improve your overall health, maintain an active lifestyle, or lose weight, this quick tip episode is for you. Tune in to learn more about the benefits of increasing your daily step count and get practical tips for incorporating more movement into your day.

    #dailysteps #stepcount #healthylifestyle #healthtips #fitnessmotivation #weightlossjourney #exercise #physicalactivity #cardio #mortalityrate #hearthealth #walking #fitnesstips #healthyliving #active #movement #wellness #quicktips #selfimprovement #healthgoals #fitnessgoals #motivation #stepchallenge #fitnesscommunity #healthandfitness

    Support the show

    How To Decide When To Call An Election

    How To Decide When To Call An Election

    With Rishi Sunak still behind in the polls, will he wait a full year before calling a General Election? And at a time when many voters feel pessimistic about the future, can either Sunak or Keir Starmer generate a sense of hope and change?

    In this first episode of How To Win An Election, electoral masterminds Peter Mandelson, Polly Mackenzie and Daniel Finkelstein join Matt Chorley for your insider's guide to the twists and turns of the next year in politics.

    Send questions, comments and voicenotes to: howtowin@thetimes.co.uk



    Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

    The BOMBSHELL COVID Study that Changes Everything! With David Zweig

    The BOMBSHELL COVID Study that Changes Everything! With David Zweig

    Russell chats to David Zweig, journalist for SilentLunch.net & the author of ‘Invisibles’ & ‘Abundance of Caution’. He was one of the Twitter Files journalists who helped lift the lid on the suppression of information. Together they talk about a bombshell COVID study that challenges prevailing narratives on mask mandates and lockdowns. Plus, as global leaders convene to strategise on pandemic preparedness, we question the underlying motives and potential implications for free speech and control. 

    Follow David's work: https://www.silentlunch.net/ 

    Support this channel directly here: https://rb.rumble.com/

    Follow on social media: X: @rustyrockets INSTAGRAM: @russellbrand FACEBOOK: @russellbrand