sapearl wrote in post #19028962
We know far more now than we did in 1918. People didn't react quickly enough and take things seriously and at least 20,000,000 people died world-wide. Some say it was as many as 50,000,000 of which about 675,000 were in the United States. I don't believe we will suffer those numbers.
We are better equipped to handle things and have a much better understanding of things. And to further reinforce what Digital Paradise says, why would the President try so hard to crash the economic system he so strongly embraces? THAT is the most important thing to HIM, and would make no sense.
What is different, and what is the same?
- In 1918 and now, there is no cure for viral pneumonial now we have a way to fight bacterial pneumonia only, with antibiotics; antivirals exist for influenza, but not coronavirus.
- Histological examinations and autopsy reports of the 1918 influenza pandemic victims shows evidence of bacterial invasion in more than 90% of cases; however, it appears that coronavirus tends to develop into viral pneumonia.
- We have respirators now, we did NOT back in 1918....the mechanical ventilator was not invented until 1949.
But we do not have ENOUGH respirators. About 5% of coronavirus cases need mechanical respirators, not simply supplemental oxygen...in Italy they are finding that they do NOT have ENOUGH respirators, so doctors are having to triage cases and decide which patients to give the respirators to...it is like battlefield triage, someone has to give way and die, and someone else still has to make those decisions! It is the fundamental reason behind the shelter-in-place...slow the spread so that case loads are manageable with the equipment we have! China had to build hospitals in order to manage cases; we are now (in SF Bay, CA at least) setting things up to use HOTELS as an alternative to hospitals. But we don't have the respirators to handle an explosion of cases.
- Nor do we have adequate medical staff...do we pull doctors and nurses from elsewhere, to handle our case loads, leaving another area with insuffient staff to deal with a slightly delayed explosion of cases elsewhere?!
In brief, we are not necessarily medically
that much more advanced now than 100 years ago, in terms of treatment to overcome coronavirus. We have better ability to sustain life, but we are nevertheless losing corona patients today in spite of 100 years of technology...across the world we are losing an average of 3.5% of coronavirus cases overall. IIRC, Spanish Flu death rate was 'only' 2.5%.
If we are smart and take preventative measures sooner than later, we can prevent overload of our medical facilities and staff.
But we also need to prevent overload of our first responders...we have already seen how coronavirus can take 40 firefighters out of action at one time...three infections leading to taking 40 firefighters off the job during self-isolation.
It is a good thing that airlines have reduced flights, because we have already seen how coronavirus can take over 40 TSA agents off the job at a single location.
The NBA as how many players tested positive on how many teams?...two Jazz and four Nets players so far.
It is now estimated that the coronavirus death rate is about 1.5%, rather an 0.1% of influenza, compared to the 4.1% worldwide death rate. The Spanish Flu death rate was 2.5%.
As of March 17, CDC reports 75 deaths in 4226 cases so far...1.77%
Since younger patients fare better, we should let the coronavirus falsely overblown 'hoax' (that apparently some feel is true) exterminate the older population?
I just checked out your terrific FB video; nicely done and thanks for sharing.
