3 ms·

What is the effect of fear? Cortisol spikes and avoiding going to the doctor for what would normally be a good reason need to be researched.

majewsky 6y ago
That is something worth researching, but even then, it's still justifiable to count a death by fear as a death by pandemic, given that it wouldn't have happened without the pandemic.
- fastball 6y ago
  You can have a pandemic without fear though.
  - vertex-four 6y ago
    Really? Has there ever been one? Or is the fear a natural human response to an invisible, omnipresent killer?
    - fastball 6y ago
      Well, I guess I should say you can have a pandemic without a fear-mongering news media that significantly exacerbates it. I personally am not "fearful" of COVID-19, as are many (most) people I know, so it is clearly possible for the general human.
      - vertex-four 6y ago
        If you're not fearful and nor are most people you know, who are you claiming is fearful? Personally, my behaviour patterns have changed. I'm more aware of when someone I don't know is near me. When I hear about the vulnerable people in my close community who suddenly have to navigate the world with significantly increased risk, I feel worried for them.
        fastball 6y ago
        I'm not claiming anyone is fearful? I claimed you can have a pandemic without fear.
occamrazor 6y ago
Reduced access to healthcare, counterintuitively, reduces mortality in the short term, because it reduces complications from medical interventions. On the medium and long term instead it increases mortality, as expected. Moreover, lockdowns and social distancing also reduced flu deaths. This means that the total number of deaths attributable ti Covid may in fact be higher than the excess mortality over the average of previous years, although it is difficult to quantity the difference.
pinkfoot 6y ago
Its still caused by the virus. It counts.
- jakeogh 6y ago
  Not completely. Fear is very profitable, it makes people more pliable, people that are afraid are less rational. There are strong incentives to make people irrationally afraid.

majewsky 6y ago

That is something worth researching, but even then, it's still justifiable to count a death by fear as a death by pandemic, given that it wouldn't have happened without the pandemic.

fastball 6y ago
You can have a pandemic without fear though.
- vertex-four 6y ago
  Really? Has there ever been one? Or is the fear a natural human response to an invisible, omnipresent killer?
  - fastball 6y ago
    Well, I guess I should say you can have a pandemic without a fear-mongering news media that significantly exacerbates it. I personally am not "fearful" of COVID-19, as are many (most) people I know, so it is clearly possible for the general human.
    - vertex-four 6y ago
      If you're not fearful and nor are most people you know, who are you claiming is fearful? Personally, my behaviour patterns have changed. I'm more aware of when someone I don't know is near me. When I hear about the vulnerable people in my close community who suddenly have to navigate the world with significantly increased risk, I feel worried for them.
      - fastball 6y ago
        I'm not claiming anyone is fearful? I claimed you can have a pandemic without fear.

occamrazor 6y ago

Reduced access to healthcare, counterintuitively, reduces mortality in the short term, because it reduces complications from medical interventions. On the medium and long term instead it increases mortality, as expected. Moreover, lockdowns and social distancing also reduced flu deaths. This means that the total number of deaths attributable ti Covid may in fact be higher than the excess mortality over the average of previous years, although it is difficult to quantity the difference.

pinkfoot 6y ago

Its still caused by the virus. It counts.

jakeogh 6y ago
Not completely. Fear is very profitable, it makes people more pliable, people that are afraid are less rational. There are strong incentives to make people irrationally afraid.