Covid 19 -

[b0son]

Originally Posted by EgoFG

It is harsh, but one could say that about 70% of Covid Deaths would have died anyway.

Two points...

1. you're comparing 2018 with 2020... what social distancing measures were implemented in 2018? likely, virtually none, rendering a direct comparison irrelevant.

2. serology studies suggest the flu hit a very significant proportion of the population (close to half). covid-19 has been a fraction. now compare the death rates.

Let covid-19 run rampant, and you will have a problem that dwarfs a bad flu year.

[Work Horse]

Originally Posted by b0son

Two points...

1. you're comparing 2018 with 2020... what social distancing measures were implemented in 2018? likely, virtually none, rendering a direct comparison irrelevant.

2. serology studies suggest the flu hit a very significant proportion of the population (close to half). covid-19 has been a fraction. now compare the death rates.

Let covid-19 run rampant, and you will have a problem that dwarfs a bad flu year.

Or look at it the other way around.

How many people have not been hospitalised or died from flu this year that would have in a 'normal' year because of the measures to stop Covid-19 transmission?

In Australia the number of flu deaths this winter was zero.

36 people have died of flu in Australia so far this year, last year it was about 500.

We know Covid-19 is more contagious than flu.

The hospital system would be over run if Covid-19 gets away from us, and not just by the Covid-19 infected.

https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/he...c56a8c0cfb7fb6

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-07-...ralia/12480190

[b0son]

Originally Posted by Work Horse

Or look at it the other way around.

How many people have not been hospitalised or died from flu this year that would have in a 'normal' year because of the measures to stop Covid-19 transmission?

And how many people haven't been involved in workplace accidents because they weren't at work? How many fewer road accidents have there been because there were fewer people on the road?

Yes, there's been a huge economic cost. But there are a lot of people who would have otherwise been dead. Arguably, if covid-19 had been allowed to run rampant, people would have started self-isolating out of fear for themselves or for family, especially if things had started becoming like they were in Italy or Spain. I don't think it's really worthwhile blaming the government for overreacting.