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> 538K confirmed deaths in 328 million (the US population) That is a hugely inflated numbers. For example, people who died in motorcycle accidents who tested p

> 538K confirmed deaths in 328 million (the US population) That is a hugely inflated numbers. For example, people who died in motorcycle accidents who tested positive for COVID at the time are counted in that total. It may be useful to the CDC to count that way but it is not an accurate number to show how dangerous COVID actually is. Flu death statistics are way down this year. Did the flu magically disappear this year? I doubt it. Almost all respiratory infections were counted as COVID out of an abundance of caution. Yes, COVID is dangerous. However, the count that is published is way over stated.

gredrotino 6y ago
This is not necessarily the case, and based on excess mortality data if the number is off it is most likely under reported (look at the senior home reporting in NY state and the reluctance of certain states, like Flordia, to openly share this data). In the case of the motorcycle accident: the man was in a crash and hospitalized for over a week where he died of COVID related respiratory failure. While he would not have been in the hospital had it not been for the accident, had it not been for COVID he very well may have survived his time there. Regarding the Flu, it is way down this year precisely because of the measures that have been taken for COVID. It is less transmissible than COVID, so it stands to reason that it would die out during a time when most people are taking precautions to prevent the spread of a more transmissible virus.
jcranmer 6y ago
This canard is still being trailed out? Excess death counts are available, and they are even higher than the COVID death counts, suggesting that the official count may actually be an underestimate of total fatalities. However, the claim that that it is "way over stated" is not borne out by the actual statistics.
- macinjosh 6y ago
  Your only response to the well known fact that the data has flaws [0,1] is more unspecified statistics. Why should I put any trust in those if I know the death count statistic has clear flaws? I'd rather our society not be directed based on easily manipulated statistics. It cloaks hidden agendas behind the guise of science and math which is dishonest. [0]: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/15/colorado-covid-coronavirus-counting-deaths-fatalities/ https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/15/colorado-covid-coronav... [1]: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fox-35-investigates-questions-raised-after-fatal-motorcycle-crash-listed-as-covid-19-death https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fox-35-investigates-questi...
krallja 6y ago
The hospital near me has not found ANY positive flu cases in the last year. It seems like the Covid restrictions (masks, handwashing, and social distancing) were extremely effective at preventing the spread of the flu. It wasn’t magic. It was basic hygiene.
- macinjosh 6y ago
  Sounds too good to be true so it probably is not. If that is the case why didn't this 'basic hygiene' eliminate or curb the coronavirus?
  - DanBC 6y ago
    Because covid is considerably more contagious than most flu strains.
    - macinjosh 6y ago
      COVID is not the virus, it is the disease that results from the coronavirus. The virus is the contagious part. Sure, but do you really believe everyone was so hygienic that the flu was entirely eliminated in some areas? Most of the trips I have taken out involve at least a couple encounters with people wearing their masks improperly, touching their face, sneezing, coughing, etc. We should see at least some small amount of flu. Zero is suspicious IMHO.
      - afavour 6y ago
        The actual data does not show zero cases, but it does show an incredible decline in flu infections this year. There will always be a small number of people wearing masks incorrectly but that doesn’t invalidate everyone that does. And it’s not just masks etc, it’s also the lengthy lockdown, working from home instead of commuting on public transit, etc etc. It does seem strange that a hospital would report absolutely zero but we have no idea of the context. Maybe the OP lives in a sparsely populated area.
        6y ago

gredrotino 6y ago

This is not necessarily the case, and based on excess mortality data if the number is off it is most likely under reported (look at the senior home reporting in NY state and the reluctance of certain states, like Flordia, to openly share this data). In the case of the motorcycle accident: the man was in a crash and hospitalized for over a week where he died of COVID related respiratory failure. While he would not have been in the hospital had it not been for the accident, had it not been for COVID he very well may have survived his time there. Regarding the Flu, it is way down this year precisely because of the measures that have been taken for COVID. It is less transmissible than COVID, so it stands to reason that it would die out during a time when most people are taking precautions to prevent the spread of a more transmissible virus.

jcranmer 6y ago

This canard is still being trailed out? Excess death counts are available, and they are even higher than the COVID death counts, suggesting that the official count may actually be an underestimate of total fatalities. However, the claim that that it is "way over stated" is not borne out by the actual statistics.

macinjosh 6y ago
Your only response to the well known fact that the data has flaws [0,1] is more unspecified statistics. Why should I put any trust in those if I know the death count statistic has clear flaws? I'd rather our society not be directed based on easily manipulated statistics. It cloaks hidden agendas behind the guise of science and math which is dishonest. [0]: https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/15/colorado-covid-coronavirus-counting-deaths-fatalities/ https://www.denverpost.com/2020/05/15/colorado-covid-coronav... [1]: https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fox-35-investigates-questions-raised-after-fatal-motorcycle-crash-listed-as-covid-19-death https://www.fox35orlando.com/news/fox-35-investigates-questi...

krallja 6y ago

The hospital near me has not found ANY positive flu cases in the last year. It seems like the Covid restrictions (masks, handwashing, and social distancing) were extremely effective at preventing the spread of the flu. It wasn’t magic. It was basic hygiene.

macinjosh 6y ago
Sounds too good to be true so it probably is not. If that is the case why didn't this 'basic hygiene' eliminate or curb the coronavirus?
- DanBC 6y ago
  Because covid is considerably more contagious than most flu strains.
  - macinjosh 6y ago
    COVID is not the virus, it is the disease that results from the coronavirus. The virus is the contagious part. Sure, but do you really believe everyone was so hygienic that the flu was entirely eliminated in some areas? Most of the trips I have taken out involve at least a couple encounters with people wearing their masks improperly, touching their face, sneezing, coughing, etc. We should see at least some small amount of flu. Zero is suspicious IMHO.
    - afavour 6y ago
      The actual data does not show zero cases, but it does show an incredible decline in flu infections this year. There will always be a small number of people wearing masks incorrectly but that doesn’t invalidate everyone that does. And it’s not just masks etc, it’s also the lengthy lockdown, working from home instead of commuting on public transit, etc etc. It does seem strange that a hospital would report absolutely zero but we have no idea of the context. Maybe the OP lives in a sparsely populated area.
      - 6y ago