Death isn't the only negative outcome of a COVID-19 infection. That's also why using excess deaths is a better metric than direct deaths, since if COVID overwh

Death isn't the only negative outcome of a COVID-19 infection. That's also why using excess deaths is a better metric than direct deaths, since if COVID overwhelms hospitals and e.g. heart attack or cancer deaths skyrocket that is a related death. But if you've created a bunch of new disabled people, that isn't exactly a fantastic outcome either and one more poorly tracked (e.g. I personally know someone who couldn't work for a few months following hospitalization and recovery).