Flu - 36 million infected, 22k dead. Corona - 2,340 infected, 50 dead

[Tyr-Ziu Saxnot]

Well, the UK response to it should be welcome !

Boris & Co have so far avoided draconian, sweeping society-controlling bans (& our Government has taken much criticism because of it !). There was talk of our Government asking all people aged 70+ to self-isolate for FOUR MONTHS. We're waiting until later this afternoon to see if they recommend that. Latest word is that they might hold off from doing so, for the moment.

But be under no illusion. If, as everybody thinks, our situation becomes as bad as Italy's, our Government would be committing political suicide if he was still considered to be under-reacting. Draconian powers WILL be exercised, I'm sure, if we're hit very much harder.

My friend, more calm, better hygiene, less activity in crowds and greater emphasis on creating a vaccine and ongoing treatment meds should be the call of the day-- not this rampant hysteric fear driving that most governments are now doing in order to seize even more power over their citizens.
Even here in US the hysteric overdrive has kicked in -- and no way do the numbers (even the deliberately falsely fudged numbers ) warrant such some of the very extreme, sweeping actions being taken, imho..
They are treating it like it is the Spanish flu already.. They are deliberately creating hysteria and epic unwarranted fears...
All of this has now been so politicized to the max.. Which definitely interferes with the proper and better actions that should be taken, imho..-Tyr

[Drummond]

My friend, more calm, better hygiene, less activity in crowds and greater emphasis on creating a vaccine and ongoing treatment meds should be the call of the day-- not this rampant hysteric fear driving that most governments are now doing in order to seize even more power over their citizens.
Even here in US the hysteric overdrive has kicked in -- and no way do the numbers (even the deliberately falsely fudged numbers ) warrant such some of the very extreme, sweeping actions being taken, imho..
They are treating it like it is the Spanish flu already.. They are deliberately creating hysteria and epic unwarranted fears...
All of this has now been so politicized to the max.. Which definitely interferes with the proper and better actions that should be taken, imho..-Tyr

I think it really comes down to getting a viable vaccine in the shortest possible time .. not only to save lives, but to head this off before there's a chance it can mutate. Maybe it'd mutate to be more harmless. Maybe a mutation will make today's situation seem like a picnic. Who knows. So long as they get that vaccine, ASAP, even if corners are cut in the process.

[Abbey Marie]

Draconian government won’t matter if you’re 6 feet under.
I for one am not looking under stones for conspiracy theories and globalist machinations.
Sometimes a cigar really is just a cigar...

[Kathianne]

Draconian government won’t matter if you’re 6 feet under.
I for one am not looking under stones for conspiracy theories and globalist machinations.
Sometimes a cigar really is just a cigar...

A vaccine seems to be at least a year-18months away. The good news is that there seems to be at least 2, maybe 3 meds that may help when symptoms present themselves. If it prevents the pneumonia and lung damage, that would certainly be good interim news.

If one or more of these pans out, I expect that some of the restrictions would be lifted if mass testing is done to identify those that need to be quarantined. Indeed, this would be a blending of what UK was going to try, (building those with immunity through exposure), while allowing those protected groups to avoid those that are contagious.

[hjmick]

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are 10,442 cases of COVID 19 in the U.S. with 150 deaths. That is a kill rate of 1.44%.

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are between 36,000,000 and 55,000,000 flu cases in the U.S. with between 22,000 and 55,000 deaths. That is a kill rate of .061% and .108%.

COVID 19 is more deadly than the flu, it's in the numbers, numbers don't lie.

All things being equal, your chance of survival is better if you catch the flu...

[Kathianne]

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are 10,442 cases of COVID 19 in the U.S. with 150 deaths. That is a kill rate of 1.44%.

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are between 36,000,000 and 55,000,000 flu cases in the U.S. with between 22,000 and 55,000 deaths. That is a kill rate of .061% and .108%.

COVID 19 is more deadly than the flu, it's in the numbers, numbers don't lie.

All things being equal, your chance of survival is better if you catch the flu...

Math is hard. Exponential growth is really difficult, most of us struggle with compound interest.

[Abbey Marie]

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are 10,442 cases of COVID 19 in the U.S. with 150 deaths. That is a kill rate of 1.44%.

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are between 36,000,000 and 55,000,000 flu cases in the U.S. with between 22,000 and 55,000 deaths. That is a kill rate of .061% and .108%.

COVID 19 is more deadly than the flu, it's in the numbers, numbers don't lie.

All things being equal, your chance of survival is better if you catch the flu...

Not to mention, we know a ton about the flu stats, and we have yearly vaccines. And we have the resources to fight it; its simply not an out of control pandemic.

Thank you for this, HJ. I really don't understand why folks fight this reality. Is it political?

[Kathianne]

Not to mention, we know a ton about the flu stats, and we have yearly vaccines. And we have the resources to fight it; its simply not an out of control pandemic.

Thank you for this, HJ. I really don't understand why folks fight this reality. Is it political?

I think much of it is political, on both sides. No one wants to not be right.

On the right, some of this was the fault of the President when he couldn't take his eyes off of the markets, unemployment, the polls, i.e., numbers. Remember when he said that those folks were coming off the cruise ship, cause 'some' said it was important? He said that he'd rather, "They stayed there, it kept our numbers lower."

It was only a couple of days later that his whole tone changed, he was now equally focused on the health crisis. Personally think that is where it needs to be until they flatten the curve. Then time has been bought.

Focus on the deaths, not the 'cases.' The cases are jumping with the test increase. What will be scarier is the deaths-they are climbing, rapidly.

Italy's deaths have now surpassed China's. Italy has 60M in the country. China, over a billion I believe.

The left just wants Trump to be wrong, for whatever. They do not care the costs, they just want failure. Get Biden as a figurehead as long as he doesn't drool.

[jimnyc]

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are 10,442 cases of COVID 19 in the U.S. with 150 deaths. That is a kill rate of 1.44%.

According to the CDC, right now their web page says there are between 36,000,000 and 55,000,000 flu cases in the U.S. with between 22,000 and 55,000 deaths. That is a kill rate of .061% and .108%.

COVID 19 is more deadly than the flu, it's in the numbers, numbers don't lie.

All things being equal, your chance of survival is better if you catch the flu...

I believe we need more truth and facts, which I don't believe they fully have yet. More tests!!!

I forget who it was on the radio a while back, and like he mentioned - while there may be obvious differences, and we don't know exact numbers yet due to small amounts of test kits - but no matter the numbers it's worse to have them BOTH floating around than just the usual flu!

[jimnyc]

A vaccine seems to be at least a year-18months away. The good news is that there seems to be at least 2, maybe 3 meds that may help when symptoms present themselves. If it prevents the pneumonia and lung damage, that would certainly be good interim news.

If one or more of these pans out, I expect that some of the restrictions would be lifted if mass testing is done to identify those that need to be quarantined. Indeed, this would be a blending of what UK was going to try, (building those with immunity through exposure), while allowing those protected groups to avoid those that are contagious.

Yups. Good side is with those trials I mentioned 2 days ago, where the one was immediately. Apparently positive results from that side too. Getting through the red tap at the FDA is very helpful as well. But I still think it's gonna be a bit. But hell, if I get it and on my deathbed on oxygen - I'll take something with the approval of the FDA!!