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> The problem is that those observations are typically used to conclude that "this is just a bad flu" and advance political demands such as "immediately reopen
by Mikeb85 7y ago
> The problem is that those observations are typically used to conclude that "this is just a bad flu" and advance political demands such as "immediately reopen of the country".
And why not? Should studies and observations be dismissed just because the result isn't what some people want?
>The question that truly matters is "which model is less wrong" and the overflowing ICUs in NYC and Europe
No overflowing ICUs here. Emergency rooms are way under capacity.
Where I am, we have a population of 4 million. Only 40 ICU visits during the whole pandemic. Only 59 deaths and the majority were individuals over the age of 80. Over half were in nursing homes. And yet there's a vocal group who don't want anything to reopen.
Where is the line where we reopen? 25,000 Albertans die every year. 275,000 Canadians die per year. 2.8 million Americans die every year. It's not reasonable to wait until coronavirus is completely eliminated when economic hardship itself is correlated to a higher mortality rate.
Edit - just looked at some closer stats for my region: only 3 deaths under the age of 60. Population 4 million. With 3k official cases and likely 30k or more total cases.
- blago 7y agoCongratulations! It's working. As to when and how it is appropriate to reopen without spiking the curve and killing millions - many of whom would die from easily treatable and unrelated conditions because they wouldn't be getting the attention they need - I think we should defer to the experts.
- Mikeb85 7y agoThis thing was never on pace to kill millions. Maybe if it was actually as deadly as SARS and that was a valid concern, but it's proven to be nowhere near as deadly as SARS.
- blago 7y agoIt killed hundreds of thousands and counting AFTER we did the unthinkable - shut down the world.
- Mikeb85 7y agoIt hasn't reached 200k so no, not hundreds of thousands. Swine flu killed ~500k, it doesn't look like this'll get there. It might, but it's not even the worst pandemic of the 2000's yet. https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-vs-flu.html https://www.nytimes.com/article/coronavirus-vs-flu.html
- Lewton 7y ago> Swine flu killed ~500k, it doesn't look like this'll get there. ... Are you willing to put money on this? It'll be the easiest money I'll ever make The US is already at 3x more deaths from Covid-19 than the most pessimistic estimates of how many died there from swine flu Those 500k deaths you're talking about? All happened in Africa and Asia. This pandemic has barely begun to hit India and Bangladesh. Same with Africa
- Mikeb85 7y agoIndia was one of the first countries where Covid-19 reached and Thailand was the first. Both had limited spread despite being very densely populated. If it was going to spread further it would have already. Based on the available evidence it doesn't spread well in hot climates so no, I don't think it's reaching 500k. Maybe there's a chance if the US keeps fucking up.
- Lewton 7y ago> If it was going to spread further it would have already. I gotta say, your capability for wishful thinking is impressive. Look at Singapore the past week. They had everything under control for months. Or what. Singapore's climate is too cold? Again, willing to put your money where you mouth is? Let's say 500k deaths by the end of the year excluding the US
- Mikeb85 7y agoSingapore has 11 deaths total from Covid... In a city state of 5 million. Also, warm climate doesn't mean there's no air conditioned buildings or absolutely no spread, but the stats do suggest it makes spread more difficult. 500k excluding the US seems pretty good for me. That means you expect 5x more deaths than up to now, despite deaths peaking in all the hardest hit countries that aren't the US...
- blago 7y agoIt's as deadly as they come after your ICU is full and people start dying from appendicitis.