The Cure Has Been Worse Than the Disease

Dr. Oz is taking heat because he advocates opening schools.  So, in response the illiberal left trots out their bogus stats that if 2 or 3 percent mortality is acceptable – that would mean 1.7 million children would die. But that is not what would happen. As the data show, elders with underlying conditions would die, almost no children. In addition,  the mortality rate from the virus is much lower than 2 or 3 percent. Based on data from a Santa Clara California study, as many as 50 to 80 times the number of reported cases exist in their population. So, here’s the simple math. Today, April 17 we have a total of about 705,000 cases with about 36,000 deaths attributed to Covid-19. If that was the real number of cases that would be a mortality rate of over 5%. But when you factor in the high probability that there are as many as 50 to 80 times more infected who are no longer carriers and not showing symptoms – the mortality rate drops to .01% and .05%.  That’s on par with the common flu – with the big difference being that our other strains of flu are not nearly as contagious.  Here’s the conclusion from the CDC: “CDC estimates that influenza was associated with more than 35.5 million illnesses, more than 16.5 million medical visits, 490,600 hospitalizations, and 34,200 deaths during the 2018–2019 influenza season.”  In my estimate, with 50 times the number of actual cases than reported we have approximately the same mortality rate and number of deaths – around 34,000. Of course, this is just based upon one study in California. But if it holds, the conclusion is that Covid-19 is no more deadly than other strains of flu where we have vaccines and known treatments. Perhaps, our lock down, masks and social distancing have slowed down the virus, but my sense is that the draconian shut down was ill advised and unnecessary to save lives. That for every life that may have been saved by the draconian shut down, other lives were lost in unintended consequences of children in cramped conditions with high risk elders, and no telling how many lives will be lost due to drug addiction, domestic violence, and poverty caused by millions of Americans out of work.  I am convinced this cure was worse than the disease.