FactCheckNI

Telling stories with data: FactCheckNI session at Global Fact 7

Posted on 7 July 202012 August 2020 by Allan LEONARD

Telling stories with data: FactCheckNI session at Global Fact 7
by Allan LEONARD
29 June 2020

As part of the annual summit of the International Fact-Checking Network, FactCheckNI hosted “Telling Stories with Data” at Global Fact 7, an online session that explored the use of data in news and information presented to the public. I moderated the conversation between John Campbell (Business and Economics Editor at BBC Northern Ireland) and Niall O’Neill (statistician at the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA)). The session aimed to impart an appreciation of the importance of the integrity of trustworthy official data sources and the benefits that this has for fact-checking organisations, through good working relationships with statistics agencies. Continue reading Telling stories with data: FactCheckNI session at Global Fact 7

Has the suicide rate increased 200% during the COVID-19 lockdown period?

Posted on 1 July 202012 August 2020 by FactCheckNI

[This article is part of the COVID-19 Information Dissemination (COVID-19 ID) Project — a partnership between Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and FactCheckNI. Its aim is to improve people’s health literacy about COVID-19 by providing accurate and up-to-date information that will increase knowledge, understanding and confidence and enable people to make good health decisions.]

CLAIM: Suicides have increased 200% in the COVID-19 lockdown period.

CONCLUSION: UNSUBSTANTIATED. There are no official statistics or evidence to support the claim that the rates of suicide increased 200% during the period of lockdown (i.e. from 23 March to present). Continue reading Has the suicide rate increased 200% during the COVID-19 lockdown period?

Shielding Letters: Q&A

Posted on 30 June 202012 August 2020 by FactCheckNI

Here we answer some questions on shielding letters and how they work. We will add to this as, and when, new information becomes available.

[This piece is part of the COVID-19 Information Dissemination (COVID-19 ID) Project — a partnership between Community Development and Health Network (CDHN) and FactCheckNI. Its aim is to improve people’s health literacy about COVID-19 by providing accurate and up-to-date information, which will increase knowledge, understanding and confidence and enable people to make good health decisions. FactCheckNI have also produced a live an article explaining what shielding letters are; who should have received them; and who sends them – you can find it here.] Continue reading Shielding Letters: Q&A

Social distancing in Northern Ireland

Posted on 30 June 202012 August 2020 by FactCheckNI

This article explains what the rules are in Northern Ireland regarding the social distance between people. It also discusses the evidence regarding lessening the current 2 metre distance.

Deep dive: COVID-19 related inequalities

Posted on 26 June 202012 August 2020 by FactCheckNI

Making basic comparisons between the numbers of COVID-19 positive tests or deaths across different geographic regions using raw figures may seem straightforward. But coming to conclusions about the significance of differences is fraught with difficulty, given differences in population structures (particularly age).

This explainer builds on our outline article and looks at the wealth of data and the charts behind recent reports from the Department of Health (DoH) and Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency (NISRA). Those organisations present a standardised analysis of COVID-19 infections (positive test results), hospital admissions and deaths, to assess the different health outcomes across regions of Northern Ireland, with a particular focus on areas of least and most deprivation. Continue reading Deep dive: COVID-19 related inequalities

COVID-19 and health inequalities in Northern Ireland

Posted on 26 June 202012 August 2020 by FactCheckNI

This article explains data published by the Department of Health as well as the Northern Ireland Statistics and Research Agency, about COVID-19 related health inequalities in Northern Ireland.