Can we talk COVID and how it affected you financially, emotionally, physically, etc?

[myrdale]

Brother, you are one of the lucky ones to survive covid. Go buy a lottery ticket. You're on a winning streak.

Well, I think 99% of everyone who catches it survives it. While I did have an easy go of it, I seldom smoke, I exercise routinely, eat reasonably OK, I take a multivitamin and D vitamin, I don't have asthma, my weight is could be better but it's not that bad, I am still in my early 40's, and I try to get a reasonable amount of sun on a regular basis.

[ua_guy]

Well, I think 99% of everyone who catches it survives it. While I did have an easy go of it, I seldom smoke, I exercise routinely, eat reasonably OK, I take a multivitamin and D vitamin, I don't have asthma, my weight is could be better but it's not that bad, I am still in my early 40's, and I try to get a reasonable amount of sun on a regular basis.

Here's a question. What was the US mortality rate of Covid estimated to be at the start of the pandemic? Where does it sit now?

Which country has the highest Covid mortality rate? Which country has the lowest?

[myrdale]

Here's a question. What was the US mortality rate of Covid estimated to be at the start of the pandemic? Where does it sit now?

Which country has the highest Covid mortality rate? Which country has the lowest?

If the information on the JHU website is to be believed, for the current 28 day totals:

The United States of America had 13,147 deaths and 1,132,600 cases, so 1.1%.

South Korea had 700 deaths and 469,262 cases, so 0.15%.

Netherlands had 3 deaths and 9,186 cases, so 0.03%.

United Arab Emirates had 0 deaths and 2,346 cases, so 0.00%.

And China had 22,773 deaths and 32,165 cases, so 70%.

In reality, I don't believe 70% of everyone in China is falling over dead. UAE is sever magnitudes smaller in population and size, but also its a desert climate that probably has some effect. Netherlands I should image are slighlty heartier people that US citizens on average. And S.Korea I think they have got their ducks in a row.

That is the best information I know of where we sit now.

[ua_guy]

That is the best information I know of where we sit now.

That's pretty close to what I could find. Johns Hopkins has been keeping a running analysis. Peru has the highest mortality rate, at 4.9%. Astonishing. And China, who knows, their data has been questionable since the beginning.

https://coronavirus.jhu.edu/data/mortality

The 1.1% mortality rate for the US looks like a low number, and if I recall at the beginning of the pandemic, it was estimated to be anywhere from 1-3%. This factoid was circulated in memes, of course, "You have a 99% chance of surviving Covid!". Truth is, your chances are better if you're younger and healthier, and arguably worse if you're older and have health complications.

1.1%.

What does that look like? Here in the US hundreds of people are dying of Covid every day but the media doesn't report on it anymore. And the statistics don't count people who were never tested. People die at home of Covid and they aren't counted in those totals.

The death toll for the US alone is over 1,100,000 now. Put in perspective, that's nearly the equivalent of wiping the population of North Dakota and Wyoming off the map.

I guess I'm not trying to say look how big and devastating it is -- it is, and if you've lost family to Covid, you know. "1.1%" doesn't really describe what happened, is what I'm saying. It didn't accurately describe what was about to unfold at the beginning of the pandemic, either. Just over 1% or maybe so bad as to be 3%...To someone young and healthy, those are almost ignorable numbers. Flu kills anywhere from 20,000-50,000 people annually in the US. So, I guess you could say Covid is like a bad flu. A really bad flu. Maybe almost 10x as bad.

[Fishindude77]

You do realize that 97.35% of all statistics are made up on the spot?

[LivingAlmostLarge]

i still haven't had covid nor my family. I don't particularly think we're super careful. I mean we were masks while flying and airports more than others but heck honestly traveling sucks a lot and I don't know why people wouldn't want to wear a mask. DH came back from india and with coworkers who had covid there, it wasn't fun and he didn't catch it. But he wore his mask in plane, airports, and busy areas. He also didn't come home sick. I'm annoyed from November when he traveled and didn't wear a masks at his event and got probably the flu and gave it to the kids and they were all sick but not covid.

[srblanco7]

You do realize that 97.35% of all statistics are made up on the spot?

Lies, Damned Lies, and Statistics!

[rennigade]

I saw the breaking news over the weekend. Lamestream media finally admits the origins of covid. Glad they are finally up to speed after almost 3 years. Wonder how many Pangolins had to be beat to death over this. Least people can start eating bats again and feel safe about it. Also, remember when twitter and facebook were banning people if you spoke of the lab leak theory? Sad part is, if you didnt believe it before you still wont. Maybe those who thought it came from a wet market should wear tin foil hats? Hey STephen Colbert...feel free to make a public apology to Jon Stewart, you puppet.

Again, who is watching main stream media? I think I hear the echoes of a dying business.

[kork13]

Again, who is watching main stream media? I think I hear the echoes of a dying business.

Millions of people -- it's not going anywhere. It remains a highly profitable business. However, one must understand that it's an entertainment business model, regardless of the validity, legitimacy, accuracy, or depth of research involved with the content that they produce. This fact drives me crazy, and is why I've sworn off all TV "news" & many other "news" outlets.

To this specific report you/news media are referencing, I was surprised to see that it was authored by the US Department of Energy. Strange fit, though I guess I'm also not certain what non-intelligence agency would really have the charter/authority/jurisdiction for such an investigation...

[rennigade]

Millions of people -- it's not going anywhere. It remains a highly profitable business.

Actually, they're not that profitable. I didnt realize it but their value isnt determined by who watches (to a degree.) Which is good because their ratings are terrible btw. I never realized there is a thing called carriage fees. Comcast/Cox/youtube tv are all major distributors of televised content. They pay massive fees to broadcast channels like cnn, abc, nbc, etc etc. That fee is paid to the network owners. There has been plenty of coverage on how bad CNN's ratings have been over the past year. Which is why they're firing everyone. It basically doesnt matter. The fee is already set in stone for the duration of the contract. Warner brothers owns CNN, they also own adults swim, cartoon network, cinemax and others. Those channels are just bundled together. So even though CNN is abysmal, you're getting it whether you like it or not (if you pay for cable tv, or satellite.)

[ua_guy]

I didn't ever see anyone get banned on any platform for discussing the origins of Covid. I did see content removed and users banned for instigating actual hate, racial bias, and suggesting retaliatory action towards Chinese citizens, Chinese government, and anyone who looked Asian, based on the HYPOTHESIS that Covid came from a lab. There's a difference, and there's no hope for people who are unable to differentiate between those two ideas.

The idea persists in the American justice system, thankfully. Everyone is theoretically innocent until proven guilty. Is it proven that Covid leaked from a lab? No. Many reports said there was low confidence Covid escaped from a lab. One report said moderate confidence that it did. I'm very glad we didn't instigate a war with China and/or put its citizens here in the US into concentration camps based on an unproven hypothesis.

Also: I dare anyone to discuss Fox news right now. When discussing "mainstream media" Fox news cannot, should not, ever, be given a pass for lying or deceiving its viewers. That's how I know these discussions aren't objective and how the people on this board who instigate them have confirmation bias.

[QuarterMillionMan]

I had 4 shots, never got COVID, whether due to the shots or coincidence or luck, who knows. Now that we have treatments, I'm putting off the shots.

[Snydley]

Regarding the origins of the virus that causes COVID, it seems unclear. I don't have the expertise to understand 'new data' even if it emerged (I'm not a virologist) but the ones I trust don't seem convinced one way or the other. The recent FBI statement is just (?).

[ua_guy]

Regarding the origins of the virus that causes COVID, it seems unclear. I don't have the expertise to understand 'new data' even if it emerged (I'm not a virologist) but the ones I trust don't seem convinced one way or the other. The recent FBI statement is just (?).

Is there really anything new from the FBI? They reported their finding, a single report of "moderate" confidence that the virus escaped from a lab, back in 2021, I believe. It's only recently that Chris Wray, FBI director, has publicly commented on it. But that got all the "see, I told you so" people and news organizations cranked up. This report is its own island among many reports that have stated with low confidence it came from a lab, and multiple intelligence agencies. So I agree with you Snydley, it still seems very unclear.

The truth is important to uncover, whatever it is, but I ask this: What does it change, at this point? Do we as Americans really have an appetite for starting something new with China over it? Think prices are high right now...just wait until we have a real problem with China! And not just us, it begins mutual destruction.

[disneysteve]

Facts don’t matter to conspiracy theorists.

Multiple federal agencies concluded that COVID arose naturally. One agency said with low confidence that just maybe it might possibly have come from a lab and the lunatics go wild.

I’ve got more important things to worry about.