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Because the prevailing narrative is that this disease is mainly dangerous to the elderly.

paulmd 7y ago
It is primarily dangerous to the elderly. That is what the actual data shows. Some people are pushing a counter-narrative that youngs aren't invincible. Which is also true. 0.1% death rates doesn't mean zero deaths. A higher number will be hospitalized, and as hospitals become overwhelmed that means (a) quality of care will be degraded and death rates will increase somewhat, and (b) any youngs in a bed comes at the direct expense of an elderly in a bed. But if you are claiming that this disease is not mainly dangerous to the elderly, no, that is false, the deaths and hospitalizations are hugely weighted to the elderly and are quite low for young cohorts. Yes, it is important that everyone minimize contacts as much as possible. For some reason people love to really harp on this point with the youngs. I didn't go to florida for spring break, it was my boomer parents who did (or rather, were planning on going this summer and complained nonstop that Florida state parks closed and cut them off). Churches are still open in many states spreading disease. Boomers are still going to Home Depot and buying their home improvement goods. A lot of boomers aren't taking this seriously either but nobody chooses to bring that up. There are lots of changes that need to be made by everyone, but younger people are one of the primary targets of casual/unthinking ageism in this country. Avocado toast and all that. Focusing the blame on this onto the young is no more correct, helpful, or productive than focusing the blame on the Chinese, and I suspect is coming from most of the same media sources.
- Mediterraneo10 7y ago
  > Boomers are still going to Home Depot and buying their home improvement goods. It is worth pointing out that home-improvement stores were specifically exempt from the order to close businesses in several European countries. This is probably partly because those stores sell gardening products, and villagers need to be able to plant their vegetables now. However, the expectation on the part of public health authorities is presumably that that these stores remaining open, like supermarkets, will still not prevent the infection curve from flattening over the lockdown period.
- airstrike 7y ago
  > It is primarily dangerous to the elderly. That is what the actual data shows. Right, because the mortality rate for people under intensive care is skewed towards the elderly / people with underlying health conditions because they can't weather the ICU storm. My point is that data is irrelevant for the scenario in which people go without intensive care. We have no idea how deadly COVID-19 will be then (or at least I haven't seen any data on those cases)

It is primarily dangerous to the elderly. That is what the actual data shows. Some people are pushing a counter-narrative that youngs aren't invincible. Which is also true. 0.1% death rates doesn't mean zero deaths. A higher number will be hospitalized, and as hospitals become overwhelmed that means (a) quality of care will be degraded and death rates will increase somewhat, and (b) any youngs in a bed comes at the direct expense of an elderly in a bed. But if you are claiming that this disease is not mainly dangerous to the elderly, no, that is false, the deaths and hospitalizations are hugely weighted to the elderly and are quite low for young cohorts. Yes, it is important that everyone minimize contacts as much as possible. For some reason people love to really harp on this point with the youngs. I didn't go to florida for spring break, it was my boomer parents who did (or rather, were planning on going this summer and complained nonstop that Florida state parks closed and cut them off). Churches are still open in many states spreading disease. Boomers are still going to Home Depot and buying their home improvement goods. A lot of boomers aren't taking this seriously either but nobody chooses to bring that up. There are lots of changes that need to be made by everyone, but younger people are one of the primary targets of casual/unthinking ageism in this country. Avocado toast and all that. Focusing the blame on this onto the young is no more correct, helpful, or productive than focusing the blame on the Chinese, and I suspect is coming from most of the same media sources.

Mediterraneo10 7y ago
> Boomers are still going to Home Depot and buying their home improvement goods. It is worth pointing out that home-improvement stores were specifically exempt from the order to close businesses in several European countries. This is probably partly because those stores sell gardening products, and villagers need to be able to plant their vegetables now. However, the expectation on the part of public health authorities is presumably that that these stores remaining open, like supermarkets, will still not prevent the infection curve from flattening over the lockdown period.
airstrike 7y ago
> It is primarily dangerous to the elderly. That is what the actual data shows. Right, because the mortality rate for people under intensive care is skewed towards the elderly / people with underlying health conditions because they can't weather the ICU storm. My point is that data is irrelevant for the scenario in which people go without intensive care. We have no idea how deadly COVID-19 will be then (or at least I haven't seen any data on those cases)