Good article on why we want to take this seriously and avoid doing things that allow it to spread quickly.
How canceled events and self-quarantines save lives, in one chart
Not, as @Nevada Pete implies, because we all think we're going to die. But the biggest issue for most of us is a rapid spread of the disease overwhelming the public health system. And if that happens, more people *will* die, of "not getting care" because hospital beds are filled and ventilators taken up by those suffering respiratory failure due to Covid19.
No, what you say, sir, is
not correct. Not about anything I said (unless you can show me), or, about the public health implications of the disease itself. Not in the US, anyway. In the US, "most of us" are
not in jeopardy of the public health system being overwhelmed by cases of Covid19, if that's what you meant. The virus kills around 3% give or take of so-called confirmed cases. The primary group at risk of mortality are the elderly, i.e., people over 65 or 70. In that group, those with pre-existing conditions such as pneumonia or heart disease, for example, will often succumb to the disease. We must not diminish the importance of the lives of such people. The fact is, they were in the final stages of their lives, and cannot be saved. It happens.
This is a known fact, and hardly suggests that most of us here in this country are in mortal danger of Covid19, or, that our public health system is going to be overwhelmed either. The public health system was overwhelmed in Greece because of the very high percentage of elderly persons there. It was overwhelmed in China in large part on account of the government failing to react quickly to the outbreak, but instead, trying to conceal it. Li Wenliang, the whistle blower medical doctor who first realized there was a problem and attempted to speak out about it was targeted by the police and silenced, only to later succumb himself to the disease. I have already covered the air pollution situation in Wuhan, which I assure you is a strong contributing factor in their outbreak. In the US, the strategy is to identify the cases and isolate them to inhibit the spread of the disease. This has been demonstrated to be a reasonable approach and with the cooperation of the public at large will be successful in preventing the kind of nightmare experienced in China or Greece, for example, where their public health facilities were totally overwhelmed.
Yes, our public health system being overwhelmed is a concern and an issue for everybody to be aware of. But "most of us" here in the US unless we fall into the primary group at risk of death will not be at risk of mortality. We might get sick. But it won't kill us. Do we agree on that now?
I take strong exception, sir, to your allegation that I ever said or implied we, "all think we're going to die". Don't recall ever saying anything like that. Or implying it. Please show me where I said or implied, "we all think we're going to die." You can do that in a private message, if you wish. But I do expect you to do it. In fact, I insist that you do it.
This is exactly the kind of thing that's very harmful, sir, and I'm calling you out on it. You should know better than to come up with something like that. If I said anything that an educated person would
reasonably construe suggested either we are all going to die, or that we all think we are going to die, there will be an apology and disclaimer put up immediately. Show me where I said anything like that, or implied it.
Everything I have said was said with the intention to avoid hysterical thinking, but instead, to educate people regarding certain aspects of this situation that are not well understood. Others have put up authenticated statistics to substantiate my comments. I have a background in health care, so that's why I took the time. I'm waiting...
