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It's comparing 0.4% and 0.2% but not mentioning infectiousness (covid-19 appears more transmissible). 0.4% of a very large number will be considerably more peo
by DanBC 6y ago
It's comparing 0.4% and 0.2% but not mentioning infectiousness (covid-19 appears more transmissible). 0.4% of a very large number will be considerably more people than 0.2% of a much smaller number.
It says we do precisely nothing for flu and that's incorrect. We have internationally coordinated programmes of vaccine development and we have annual programmes to vaccinate as many vulnerable people and healthcare workers as possible. We have programmes of flu monitoring and surveillance that tell us what strains of flu are circulating, who is being affected by it, and whether we need to create more surge capacity.
Notice that flu always puts pressure on healthcare systems -- hospitals get fuller, and they often try not to book as many elective surgeries during winter -- but they're not, even in bad flu seasons, overwhelmed. We don't have temporary morgues set up in container lorries in car parks. Funeral homes don't get overwhelmed.
- akvadrako 6y agoThe flu infects an average of a billion people annually. That’s a big number.
- nickthemagicman 6y agoThis is proving not to be an issue in Sweden or any of the places that have already opened up their economies. Flattening the curve was a myth potentially.
- DanBC 6y agoThe very high death rate in Sweden suggests otherwise.
- nickthemagicman 6y agoSweden's death rate is below Italy UK Spain and Belgium all of which enacted full quarantines. Not sure why you're giving incomplete and somewhat sensational fear inducing information.
- EdwardCoffin 6y agoJust barely below, if you look at the NYT per capita rankings [1]. The full quarantines were also enacted too late. [1] https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-maps.html https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/world/coronavirus-m...
- nickthemagicman 6y agoAnd? The exponential explosion of infections that was used as the model to justify quarantine and flattening the curve did not happen in Sweden. As a matter of fact it's on par with other countries that have full lockdowns which indicates quarantine is ineffective.