Tell the full story of the numbers

On the front page of a recent Daily Herald, it read 986 new COVID-19 cases reported in a day and the story goes to wherever the storyteller wants to take us. This number grabs attention, and I guess that's what the media wants, if it bleeds it leads. Does this number send people into a deeper panic? I don't know. Does it make people have more concerns? I know it does me.

I'd like to see the story go something like this: "986 new cases of the COVID-19 virus reported among them, rounded to make the math easier, 900 have shown no or mild symptoms and have been told to stay home and report back if their symptoms get worse. Of the remaining positive cases, 80 have been admitted to hospitals with moderate symptoms and 6 have been admitted in severe to critical condition. All those admitted are being treating with the appropriate care for their condition."

Would this give people a false sense of security and cause them to go out and do stupid stuff? Maybe, just look at the pictures from Chicago in the recent past. You can't stop people from doing stupid stuff, but it seems regulating them helps. Would it give people a better understanding of the numbers and a little less to panic or worry about? I believe it would. I believe it would also show that if you follow the guidelines and take care of yourself, you have a better chance of not getting as severe a case of the virus or possibly not getting it at all.

Knowledge is power and the more we know what's going on, the better we may feel and the easier it will be to get though this and we will get through this together.

Rich Wilson

Buffalo Grove