Analysis of the Relationship between Numbers of Cases and Mortality Rate for COVID-19 in New York City for the Month of April 2020

摘要

During the month which began just prior to the start of April 2020, the New York City mortality rate for COVID-19 infection increased continuously and gradually, from 1% - 2% at the beginning of the month, to a peak of about 11% by early May. During this same period, the total number of cases increased from about 20,000 to about 200,000. Since there is no reason, a priori, to expect the mortality rate of any single disease to have any particular mathematical relationship to the number of cases, a statistical analysis would appear to be in order. This analysis is presented, and one possible interpretation is suggested.