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Actually Germany is another strange data point: according to Wikipedia’s sources they have 21,890 confirmed cases and “only” 77 deaths. This seems dramatically

Actually Germany is another strange data point: according to Wikipedia’s sources they have 21,890 confirmed cases and “only” 77 deaths. This seems dramatically different than Italy’s experience. Italy had over 1400 deaths by that point in their confirmed infection count. Is it how they’re counting? The age group infected? Honestly, I’m just trying to find a ray of hope here.

mschuster91 7y ago
> Italy had over 1400 deaths by that point in their confirmed infection count. Italy has the problem that exploding rents after the financial crisis forced many young people to live with their parents and grandparents which not only means that they're heading for a demographic disaster as it's hard to get kids when grandma lives with you but also that the coronavirus has it easy to spread to elderly patients which are at horrible risk for serious corona cases. Additionally, the financial crisis aftermath has wrecked the Italian healthcare system as it's easy to "save" money there on short term. Hospitals were closed and nurses and doctors fled to e.g. Germany or Switzerland due to higher pay, which means that now when the crisis hits the staff is overwhelmed, the beds are overwhelmed and people, especially old people, are sent home to die so that there is a chance to save those young who do develop severe coronavirus cases.
- MikeAmelung 7y ago
  It sounds like you've hit on a reason that it might not be as bad for anyone else. Grandma and grandpa are sitting around having dinner with a bunch of asymptomatic but infected young adults. Everybody rubs their faces together when they show up and leave. It's a recipe for disaster.
  - mschuster91 7y ago
    The US has a different problem - people showing up sick (or symptomless but infected) at work because they cannot afford to stay home or lose their job. Germany... let's just say we had to enact strict lockdowns due to utter idiots going to "corona parties" and God I wish I were joking here.
ljw1001 7y ago
germany has a much more accurate infection count than italy. they haven't been overwhelmed yet.

mschuster91 7y ago

> Italy had over 1400 deaths by that point in their confirmed infection count. Italy has the problem that exploding rents after the financial crisis forced many young people to live with their parents and grandparents which not only means that they're heading for a demographic disaster as it's hard to get kids when grandma lives with you but also that the coronavirus has it easy to spread to elderly patients which are at horrible risk for serious corona cases. Additionally, the financial crisis aftermath has wrecked the Italian healthcare system as it's easy to "save" money there on short term. Hospitals were closed and nurses and doctors fled to e.g. Germany or Switzerland due to higher pay, which means that now when the crisis hits the staff is overwhelmed, the beds are overwhelmed and people, especially old people, are sent home to die so that there is a chance to save those young who do develop severe coronavirus cases.

MikeAmelung 7y ago
It sounds like you've hit on a reason that it might not be as bad for anyone else. Grandma and grandpa are sitting around having dinner with a bunch of asymptomatic but infected young adults. Everybody rubs their faces together when they show up and leave. It's a recipe for disaster.
- mschuster91 7y ago
  The US has a different problem - people showing up sick (or symptomless but infected) at work because they cannot afford to stay home or lose their job. Germany... let's just say we had to enact strict lockdowns due to utter idiots going to "corona parties" and God I wish I were joking here.

ljw1001 7y ago

germany has a much more accurate infection count than italy. they haven't been overwhelmed yet.