Covid-19 Comparison Calculator

COMPARE Alberta to ...

U.S. States and Canadian Provinces

Covid-19 numbers - from places other than Alberta -

only start to become meaningful when we adjust for population.

This simple tool allows Albertans to do a quick on-the-spot calculation 
--- to more fairly compare any Covid-19 number (tests, cases, deaths, etc.).

Of course, this is just a starting point in making a comparison.
Other considerations could include – but not be limited to:
population density,
number of tests done,
demographics,
government transparency,
trustworthiness.

So here's an example of 
how to use the following chart:

Let's first choose to compare Alberta to New York

(the “actual cases” are fictitious, since they are always changing).
(to find column A or B numbers scroll down).

# of actual Alberta cases X Column A 

= # Alberta cases at New York's population level

50 X 4.88 = 244

Now let's choose to compare New York to Alberta

# actual New York cases X Column B =

# New York cases at Alberta's population level

300 X 0.20 = 60

It is now clear, after accounting for population, that Alberta has a lower number of cases.

Does this necessarily mean that Alberta is doing better than New York. Maybe. That would take further study into the number of tests and general trustworthiness of the numbers that are being provided.  But it does give us a general idea of how well we are doing here in Alberta.

3 REASONS why 
you should use this method of comparison:

1. It gets Albertans into a strategy frame of mind.  If Albertans are to succeed in the future, we must know ourselves and our neighbours, allies, and opponents. Sun Tsu in The Art of War says, “Carefully compare the opposing army with your own, so that you may know where strength is superabundant and where it is deficient.”
2. It is better than a per capita comparison for three reasons. First you know how many more people live in New York state than in Alberta. In a per capita comparison, population differences are hidden from you. Second, most Albertans are most concerned about how Alberta is doing in comparison with everybody else. A list of per capita numbers for every place, for only “one moment in time, is less meaningful. Third, knowing the multiplier (eg. New York state is 4.88 times bigger in population than Alberta), means that every time you get new information, you only have to do “one” quick calculation to make a fairer and more meaningful comparison.
3. You learn how Alberta's population – in one or two numbers – compares to any state in the United States (or province in Canada). This wouldn't just be handy for Covid-19 comparisons, but all sorts of comparisons (number of cars, number of hospitals, number of schools, or anything where population plays a role). 

Canadian Province or Territory	Column A	Column B
British Columbia	1.14	0.88
Manitoba	0.31	3.18
New Brunswick	0.18	5.44
Newfoundland & Labrador	0.13	7.83
Northwest Territories	0.01	97.33
Nova Scotia	0.23	4.4
Nunavut	0.01	113.15
Ontario	3.31	0.3
Prince Edward Island	0.04	28.46
Quebec	2.01	0.5
Saskatchewan	0.27	3.7
Yukon	0.01	113.37

U.S. State	Column A	Column B
Alabama	1.2	0.83
Alaska	0.18	5.5
Arizona	1.73	0.58
Arkansas	0.74	1.35
California	9.72	0.1
Colorado	1.38	0.73
Connecticut	0.88	1.13
Delaware	0.24	4.23
District of Columbia	0.17	5.86
Florida	5.16	0.19
Georgia	2.56	0.39
Hawaii	0.35	2.85
Idaho	0.42	2.37
Illinois	3.15	0.32
Indiana	1.64	0.61
Iowa	0.77	1.29
Kansas	0.72	1.4
Kentucky	1.1	0.91
Louisiana	1.15	0.87
Maine	0.33	3.04
Maryland	1.49	0.67
Massachusetts	1.69	0.59
Michigan	2.45	0.41
Minnesota	1.37	0.73
Mississsippi	0.73	1.36
Missouri	1.5	0.67
Montana	0.26	3.87
Nebraska	0.47	2.12
Nevada	0.74	1.36
New Hampshire	0.33	3.03
New Jersey	2.21	0.45
New Mexico	0.51	1.95
New York	4.88	0.2
North Carolina	2.53	0.4
North Dakota	0.19	5.38
Ohio	2.87	0.35
Oklahoma	0.97	1.03
Oregon	1.02	0.98
Pennsylvania	3.15	0.32
Puerto Rico (not a state but should be)	0.82	1.22
Rhode Island	0.26	3.84
South Carolina	1.24	0.81
South Dakota	0.21	4.68
Tennessee	1.65	0.61
Texas	6.96	0.14
Utah	0.76	1.31
Vermont	0.15	6.52
Virginia	2.08	0.48
Washington	1.82	0.55
West Virginia	0.45	2.24
Wisconsin	1.42	0.7
Wyoming	0.14	7.02

Sources:  

Statistics Canada 2016 Census

https://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2016/dp-pd/hlt-fst/pd-pl/Table.cfm?Lang=Eng&T=101&S=50&O=A

US State Populations - Wikipedia

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_states_and_territories_of_the_United_States_by_population

If you like comparing Alberta to other places ...
Watch these YouTubes:

Alberta Northern Superstar





The Shocking Truth about Alberta and Saskatchewan