Seems like the coronavirus is way overhyped

salt

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 7:55 am

According to this article
https://www.livescience.com/ne......html

"So far, the new coronavirus has led to more than 100,000 illnesses and more than 3,000 deaths worldwide. But that's nothing compared with the flu, also called influenza. In the U.S. alone, the flu has caused an estimated 32 million illnesses, 310,000 hospitalizations and 18,000 deaths this season, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). "

That's a much higher percetage of deaths due to coronavirus.
Flu: 18,000 deaths out of 32 million illnesses (that's 0.05%)
Corona: 3000 deaths out of 100000 illnesses (that's 3%)

If I've done my maths right, I think that's why it's scary.
3 out of every 100 people dying - that's tons!! Chas veshalom!

amother

Lilac

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 8:15 am

Copied from another msg: FB..this is America, NOT Communist China..DO NOT DELETE THIS POST AGAIN!!!

"PLEASE READ IT! Via my friend Leora Erin

Wise words from another Infectious Disease MD colleague Dr. Sharkawy on COVID-19:

“I'm a doctor and an Infectious Diseases Specialist. I've been at this for more than 20 years seeing sick patients on a daily basis. I have worked in inner city hospitals and in the poorest slums of Africa. HIV-AIDS, Hepatitis,TB, SARS, Measles, Shingles, Whooping cough, Diphtheria...there is little I haven't been exposed to in my profession. And with notable exception of SARS, very little has left me feeling vulnerable, overwhelmed or downright scared.

I am not scared of Covid-19. I am concerned about the implications of a novel infectious agent that has spread the world over and continues to find new footholds in different soil. I am rightly concerned for the welfare of those who are elderly, in frail health or disenfranchised who stand to suffer mostly, and disproportionately, at the hands of this new scourge. But I am not scared of Covid-19.

What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world. I am scared of the N95 masks that are stolen from hospitals and urgent care clinics where they are actually needed for front line healthcare providers and instead are being donned in airports, malls, and coffee lounges, perpetuating even more fear and suspicion of others. I am scared that our hospitals will be overwhelmed with anyone who thinks they " probably don't have it but may as well get checked out no matter what because you just never know..." and those with heart failure, emphysema, pneumonia and strokes will pay the price for overfilled ER waiting rooms with only so many doctors and nurses to assess.

I am scared that travel restrictions will become so far reaching that weddings will be canceled, graduations missed and family reunions will not materialize. And well, even that big party called the Olympic Games...that could be kyboshed too. Can you even
imagine?

I'm scared those same epidemic fears will limit trade, harm partnerships in multiple sectors, business and otherwise and ultimately culminate in a global recession.

But mostly, I'm scared about what message we are telling our kids when faced with a threat. Instead of reason, rationality, openmindedness and altruism, we are telling them to panic, be fearful, suspicious, reactionary and self-interested.

Covid-19 is nowhere near over. It will be coming to a city, a hospital, a friend, even a family member near you at some point. Expect it. Stop waiting to be surprised further. The fact is the virus itself will not likely do much harm when it arrives. But our own behaviors and "fight for yourself above all else" attitude could prove disastrous.

I implore you all. Temper fear with reason, panic with patience and uncertainty with education. We have an opportunity to learn a great deal about health hygiene and limiting the spread of innumerable transmissible diseases in our society. Let's meet this challenge together in the best spirit of compassion for others, patience, and above all, an unfailing effort to seek truth, facts and knowledge as opposed to conjecture, speculation and catastrophizing.

Facts not fear. Clean hands. Open hearts.
Our children will thank us for it.”

#washurhands #geturflushot #respect #patiencenotpanic

Jeanette

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 8:40 am

There is freaking out and there's taking reasonable precautions.

You don't need a years supply of hand sanitizer. Soap and water works fine too.

You do not need to wear a face mask in public. Doctors are advising against it. It won't protect you and is using up the supply needed by healthcare workers.

Cover your mouth with your elbow when you cough and avoid touching your mouth, nose or eyes.

Be prepared for quarantines if your community is hit.

Is it any worse than the flu? We don't know yet..The difference is that flu is a known entity..We know how many cases to expect per season and our hospitals are set up to handle them. The real fear in COV is a sudden surge of cases that take up all ICU beds and other sick people have nowhere to go. That's what's happening right now in Italy.

amother

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:02 am

amother [ Aubergine ] wrote:

I am not fearful.
Working on hishtadlus bitachon and emunah.
Believe this is truly the challenge of our lifetime in ways we cannot fully foresee.
Am Yisroel Chai!

Actually, it's not the challenge of our lifetime. Forget China since perhaps we can't believe them.
In south Korea, with a population of almost 55 million, there have been 50 deaths. Literally, less than 1 in a million. I'm not even including the fact that it is likely that most deaths were elderly or others who are immunocompromised. Today south Korea is reporting that it appears the worst is over and the daily statistics are improving. When this is all over their death total won't even get to 100.
This is the most overhyped "crisis" if our lifetime.

ora_43

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:12 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

South Korea is using extensive testing and quarantines.

If you want to argue that it's no big deal, you need to use the death rates from countries that are treating it like no big deal and making no effort to stop the spread. It's ridiculous to look at the low death rates where people are being careful and to argue based on that that people don't need to be careful.

That's like saying "barely anyone dies by running into traffic and getting run over, therefore, all this nonsense about 'looking both ways' and 'crosswalks' is clearly a huge waste of time."

southernbubby

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:17 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

The world is trying to avoid it becoming a crisis. It looks like there were numerous deaths in Iran. If more people become sick than can be helped with the existing medical infrastructure, the virus could kill those who can't be helped but who might have survived.

The stores here are out of hand sanitizer which shouldn't kill anyone but if stores can't keep a simple product like that in stock and clinics are running out of masks, what does it say about society's ability to render aid to numerous stricken people?

The CDC here has also made some blunders and currently, only health departments are testing for the virus. Local urgent care centers don't have the tests so people can spread the infection because they are unaware that they have it.

Obviously we were frightened of the measles outbreak because measles is potentially hazardous but Corona virus now has a proven track record for killing people.

amother

Brunette

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:22 am

ora_43 wrote:

Italy are also carrying out widespread testing and quarantines. The death rate there is over 3%.

amother

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:35 am

ora_43 wrote:

Fair enough. In Iran where they aren't doing anything to contain, they have a population of 85 million. There have been 194 deaths reported. Will it get to 1000? Perhaps, but you don't think this "crisis" is getting way more attention than it deserves? There were 51 deaths last year in the U.S. from lightning strikes out of a population of 300 million. If the death rate in Iran ends up at 1000, that'll mean that a person is 13 times more likely to die from a lightning strike in the U.S., than from the Coronavirus in Iran. How many people do you know who've died from getting struck by lightning? And again, almost certainly most Coronavirus fatalities involve those who are compromised immune systems.

Btw, while we can't necessarily trust the numbers in China, it's being reported that they have reopened many local stores such as Starbucks and IKEA. It would be hard to lie about such facts and if true would clearly demonstrate that things have vastly improved.

amother

Babypink

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:43 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

What’s your agenda?

southernbubby

Sun, Mar 08 2020, 9:49 am

amother [ OP ] wrote:

So should we just let the virus run rampant and sicken an even bigger portion of society?