Odds of catching coronavirus are now 44 in a million, figures reveal
THE odds of catching Covid-19 in England are about 44 in a million a day, official figures show.
There are between 1,200 and 4,200 new infections a day, testing figures from the Office for National Statistics suggest.
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And many of those infected will not even know they have it.
Only about one person in 100 dies after being infected and another one in 100 suffer long-term effects.
There is just a one in two million chance of dying from Covid-19 in England.
That means coronavirus is as risky as taking a bath or skiing — and considerably less risky than scuba diving or sky diving.
Economist Tim Harford examined the numbers collated by the ONS to assess the current risk.
Tim, who presents the BBC Radio 4 statistics programme More or Less, said: “Covid-19 currently presents a background risk of a one in a million chance of death or lasting harm, every day.
“The risk of death alone is one in two million.”
Tim explained he started doing the maths when a friend in self-isolation asked him what the risks really were.
He said: “Simply existing in a country where the virus is suppressed but circulating is not so risky.
“It depends on age, gender, geography, behaviour and much else.
“But on average it is similar to taking a bath, going skiing, or a short motorbike ride, and considerably less risky than a scuba dive or a skydive.”
“My friend will have to make his own decisions, as we all will.
“But the risk to most individuals in the UK seems modest, for now.”
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