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I'm getting a little tired of having to perpetually bust the same Covid myths over and over again, so here is a quick summary for future reference:
"The flu killed more people last year than Covid-19 did this year!"
Last year happened to be Australia's worst flu season on record, with 312,978 "lab confirmed cases" (how many people actually get their flu "lab confirmed"?).
Last year happened to be Australia's worst flu season on record, with 312,978 "lab confirmed cases" (how many people actually get their flu "lab confirmed"?).
Now if we are to use Victoria as a comparison, noting that last year there was obviously no social distancing, no masks, no lockdowns, and no public awareness - the flu was essentially allowed to rip through the community unhindered...
by September, Victoria had made headlines with 125 deaths.
Remember, this was the worst flu season on record! https://amp.sbs.com.au/v1/news/article/victorian-influenza-death-toll-tops-100-amid-warning-of-spreading-flu/9144a9b8-85cf-4dee-9fb3-9d2f9b427d0c
Remember, this was the worst flu season on record! https://amp.sbs.com.au/v1/news/article/victorian-influenza-death-toll-tops-100-amid-warning-of-spreading-flu/9144a9b8-85cf-4dee-9fb3-9d2f9b427d0c
Now in the same State, over roughly the same time period, with some of the most significant public health restrictions in Australian history, despite lockdowns and mask mandates... 817 Victorians have died.
"Still, that's not that many people?"
How bad could it have been if we didn't lock down? So far it looks like Peru has the worst Covid death rate at about 1,062 Covid deaths per million.
If Australia had something similar we would be looking at about 26,550 deaths so far.
How bad could it have been if we didn't lock down? So far it looks like Peru has the worst Covid death rate at about 1,062 Covid deaths per million.
If Australia had something similar we would be looking at about 26,550 deaths so far.
Is that a lot? Well it would be almost double the death toll from Australia's current leading cause of death (coronary heart disease).
It would be killing us like nothing else our generation has seen before. https://www.finder.com.au/what-are-the-top-20-causes-of-death-in-australia
It would be killing us like nothing else our generation has seen before. https://www.finder.com.au/what-are-the-top-20-causes-of-death-in-australia
"But these are all people that were going to die anyway"
A lot of people that die from Covid have underlying health conditions, but these are common conditions people would ordinarily lead long lives with such as diabetes, obesity, heart issues, asthma, or immune system issues.
A lot of people that die from Covid have underlying health conditions, but these are common conditions people would ordinarily lead long lives with such as diabetes, obesity, heart issues, asthma, or immune system issues.
As evidence of this, whilst the US has a formal Covid death toll of just over 225,000. The CDC determined back on 5 October that there had already been over 300,000 excess deaths compared to normal years! https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6942e2.htm
This suggests Covid deaths are actually being under reported, not over reported!
The UK had similar numbers with the first 6 months of the year alone seeing over 58,000 excess deaths! https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3348
The UK had similar numbers with the first 6 months of the year alone seeing over 58,000 excess deaths! https://www.bmj.com/content/370/bmj.m3348
"Yes, but look at Sweden!"
To start with, Sweden had a lockdown. It just didn't look like our lockdown. You haven't seen any pictures of crowded Swedish football stadiums have you?
It was largely voluntary but their restrictions were still comparable to some US states.
To start with, Sweden had a lockdown. It just didn't look like our lockdown. You haven't seen any pictures of crowded Swedish football stadiums have you?
It was largely voluntary but their restrictions were still comparable to some US states.
They still had 5,933 deaths (if adjusted for Australia's population, that would be 14,832 deaths).
Compare that to its neighbour Norway, which had just 279 deaths.
But was it worth it? Well its economy shrank by 8.6%, Australia's by 7%, Norway by 5.3%
Which leads nicely to:
Compare that to its neighbour Norway, which had just 279 deaths.
But was it worth it? Well its economy shrank by 8.6%, Australia's by 7%, Norway by 5.3%
Which leads nicely to:
"But the economy!"
The facts are in, the more lives you protect from Covid, the more resilient your economy will be (see chart below).
Who would have thought not being afraid of dying if I go to a shopping mall would do so much for consumer confidence!
The facts are in, the more lives you protect from Covid, the more resilient your economy will be (see chart below).
Who would have thought not being afraid of dying if I go to a shopping mall would do so much for consumer confidence!
So please, if you are not a scientist, do what I do; listen to the god dam scientists about science! The science will always be on their side!
