Data in Politics

A wide range of demographic have been affected by improper handling of the COVID-19 pandemic from the absence of data collection.

The people who are mostly affected by the lack of COVID-19 pandemic data in Canada are indigenous people. As Dr. Banerji states, “A lot of Indigenous people have a lot of co-morbidities. For almost any disease out there they have higher prevalence of cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic obstructive lung disease” [3]. A narrative of conflict from the indigenous nations is the reliable collection and use of data. It is important to securely collect data without any biases and present conclusions without causing panic or discrimination. While a narrative of compromise from the indigenous nations is receiving more access to health care resources such as hospital beds and rapid testing kits and overall better handling of the pandemic in exchange for consent of data sampling.

Stakeholders whose work are negatively affected by the lack of information on the COVID-19 pandemic are frontline health care workers such as nurses and care home workers. Health care workers are negatively affected by the lack of data on the pandemic because they are constantly being exposed to patients who have contracted ccovid-19 and they are unable to provide proper care and treatment for recovery. A narrative of conflict from the health care professionals is a better way to handle the pandemic. With proper information on how each minority group gets affected by COVID-19, health care workers can be better prepared to treat their patients and improve the handling of the pandemic. On the other hand, a narrative of compromise from health care workers is receiving better equipment and resources to increase the quality of service provided by the health care professionals.

Interest groups that benefit from the lack of data are businesses and companies that were already facing hardships and were not making profit prior to the pandemic are receiving funds and benefits from the government to sustain. From the lack of data on how the pandemic has affected businesses and also on who is receiving most of government funds have allowed various people to claim the nation’s benefits. A narrative of conflict would be from the general public that government funds and benefits are not being distributed fairly and are not effectively used for the relief of the pandemic. Alternately, a narrative of compromise would be to encourage people to stay at home in order to prevent the spread of covid-19.

Medical classification and state accountability suggests that application of historical knowledge with particular configuration of technology will assist in making efficacious decisions. “In 1900, the overriding causes of death were the single great epidemic diseases: tuberculosis, pneumonia, smallpox, and influenza. Nowadays, with antibiotics and other medicines, people tend to live longer and to breakdown more slowly”. It is important to collect information such as the ongoing covid-19 pandemic to save more lives from the virus and better handle the pandemic overall. By taking into consideration, the minority groups that are highly vulnerable, the health care professionals risking their lives to sustain our community through the pandemic and properly distributing government funds to those who are directly affected by the pandemic.

References

[1] Andrew-Gee, E., Grant, T. 2020. How Canada’s crucial data gaps are hindering the coronavirus pandemic response. (April 2020). Retrieved January 31, 2021 from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1YZ53fpodCo5x4hqdd0XUBVLh4L_GK4vv/view?usp=sharing

[2] Bowker, Star. 2000. The ICD as Information Infrastructure. Sorting Things Out. Chp3–4.

[3] Boyd, A. 2020. Race-based coronavirus data not needed in Canada yet, health officials say. (April 2020). Retrieved January 31, 2021 from: https://drive.google.com/file/d/18puUi7WES69lBOgkDDGd35Uncvorrw1U/view?usp=sharin