This pandemic is now a major political issue and politicians are not known for their honesty. So where is the best source of info on COVID-19, especially info on infection rates?
WHO publishes daily reports on infection rates [1]. WHO is an independent organization not controlled by political parties, their reports should therefore be unbiased. If you are concerned about the number of infected people around you, I suggest checking WHO website for most accurate reporting [1].
If you are concerned about the number of infected people around you, I suggest checking WHO website
How do I use those numbers in my daily decision-making?
If you are concerned about the people you are in contact with, a simple math will help you calculate the risk of getting in contact with an asymptomatic COVID-19 carriers (if you are not interested in math, skip to the final line):
Find the number of symptomatic infected people in your area (if you live in the US, use this link to CDC daily report [2]). Let’s use NYC as an example: there are currently 223,000 cases of the disease in NYC. However, this number only shows the symptomatic people who know of their infection and are quarantined. It is unlikely for you to come in contact with them. The number you need to calculate is the number of asymptomatic individuals who carry the virus and may or may not show symptoms in the future. According to a newly published report by the state of Indiana, only 56% of carriers of COVID-19 are currently symptomatic [3]. We can use this percentage to calculate the estimated number of asymptomatic carriers in NYC: 175,000 asymptomatic carriers currently walking in NYC looking healthy. NYC has a population of 8.4 million people, so out of every 100 healthy-looking persons, two probably carry the virus.
Conclusion
Calculate the risk of meeting an asymptomatic carrier for pros and cons of getting in contact with people. Use info directly from WHO and do not rely on mainstream media to do the thinking for you.