Opinion

We need as much information as possible if we are to understand this virus

Every day during this crisis we have become used to seeing a welter of statistics, graphs and charts showing the number of lives lost, the rate of infection and the progression of the virus generally.

We rely on the experts to interpret the data but even the untrained among us can grasp the headline figures and key messages arising from the information being provided.

What we have come to understand is that it is this data that helps to shape government decisions, particularly as we move to the next stage of this pandemic.

It also tells us in the starkest terms just how many of our fellow citizens have been affected by coronavirus, most importantly, the number who have sadly lost their lives.

This is crucial information but we have not always been provided with a clear and comprehensive picture in relation to this.

In the early weeks the daily figures from the Public Health Agency related to deaths in hospital but concerns were raised about the situation in care homes and the community.

It was subsequently announced the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency would produce weekly figures that included these deaths.

A daily dashboard by the Department of Health was also set up but unfortunately this has proved problematic, closing down after just two days in operation.

On Thursday the department was criticised by the UK Statistics Authority which said daily surveillance statistics should be released in a transparent, easily accessible and orderly way.

"A news release on the departmental website and Twitter are not sufficient,'' said the authority, which added that 'gaps and losses' in the data need to be addressed.

What is clear from how this crisis is being handled across the world is that we need as much information as possible to help people understand exactly what is happening and the reason why we need to behave in a certain way.

A new statistical dashboard was unveiled by the department of health yesterday and we must hope this provides the level of detail that people are entitled to expect.

It is clear that the public wants more information, not less, and it is only by understanding all aspects of this pandemic that we can effectively manage our response to it.