Digging through the data there are now multiple sources of data suggesting The Economist’s estimates on excess mortality are conservative. This report suggests 6 to 9 million excess deaths in 2020 alone, so not including 2021. https://twitter.com/paimadhu/status/1396831684872581127
Given that healthcare today is much better than it was in 1918 perhaps the total numbers of deaths from SARS-CoV-2 will rank close to the Spanish Flu when all is said and done, if we account for the fact that many who died then would have survived now.
Yes, we did. At this point it appears to be politically motivated. I’m not a fan of China – especially the lack of transparency early on – but I do NOT believe this was an intentional leak, if it even was a leak.
The U.S., like most nations, has hidden MANY things from public view; many horrific things, and we’ve done it for as long as our Republic has existed. While we have a much better government than China, I am not one to praise the transparency of the U.S. government in any of its international dealings, regardless of who’s in the White House.
In terms of epidemics, from HIV to Covid, many of our leaders have lacked transparency, refused to level with us, and sometimes (in the case of HIV) refused to even acknowledge the problem at all. Some even blamed the victims and their `sinful’ behavior.
In terms of federal government experiments, like Tuskegee and also nuclear tests, the U.S. has been notorious.
In terms of top secret missions to topple democratically elected governments, from Iran to Chile to Guatemala, the U.S. is right up there.
So, all this talk about whether there was a lab leak – perhaps there was; we don’t know – just feels so self-righteous to me.
May I invoke Christ. As a Jew, I believe it’s the greatest statement made by him: “Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone” and “go, and sin no more”
These articles take a lot out of me, but I do learn quite a bit. I enjoy the learning more than the writing, especially learning about how different nations cope with Covid-19. My latest is on Japan, a country that has fared very well compared to us. But, lately, owing in large part to a sluggish vaccination campaign, it’s been experiencing a 4th wave.
Great article Joshua! The Olympics situation is a real conundrum.
Do you have any opinion on why the vaccination rate is so low in Japan compared with peer countries?
I second SClarke’s comment. I am shocked by the 4.4 percent
Philip, my reference to the Minutemen was metaphorical. The virus is elusive at times, appears to hide for periods of time, strikes opportunistically, etc … Sort of like our great and brave Patriots in 1775.
Joshua, we only have to look as far as Lyme disease and plum island where ticks were being tested. The boats that transported staff to and from the US mainland originated right around Lyme, CT. And we have yet to take responsibility for that. Gibbs (NCIS) rule 39 is that there is no such thing as coincidence
Japan’s vaccination rate is REALLY problematic. Taiwan’s, too. Both nations have done much better in terms of mitigation: Comparatively very few deaths. But, they both dropped the ball when it came to vaccination.
Clearly, after making a sham of mitigation, the U.S. has done a much better job in terms of vaccinations. As Churchill said: Americans will always do the right thing, only after they have tried everything.
Now that makes me laugh ….when there is very little to laugh about. How absolutely prophetic
C-19 for 5-25 is ready.
Comments are closed.
Your no-hype southeastern New England weather blog!
Digging through the data there are now multiple sources of data suggesting The Economist’s estimates on excess mortality are conservative. This report suggests 6 to 9 million excess deaths in 2020 alone, so not including 2021. https://twitter.com/paimadhu/status/1396831684872581127
Given that healthcare today is much better than it was in 1918 perhaps the total numbers of deaths from SARS-CoV-2 will rank close to the Spanish Flu when all is said and done, if we account for the fact that many who died then would have survived now.
CDC at it again with confused, poor, and inconsistent messaging. It now has issued a travel ban advisory for Japan: Don’t travel to Japan because the Covid-19 levels are high. Well, CDC, while Japan is experiencing an increase its levels of virus are still much lower than the U.S. Why then the travel ban? https://thehill.com/policy/international/asia-pacific/555120-us-issues-do-not-travel-advisory-for-japan-2-months-before
I’m not the only one questioning the CDC advisory. https://twitter.com/smotus/status/1396901915934576643
By the way, I’m writing a brief article on Japan’s latest surge. It is a problem, so I’m mindful of that.
Joshua, I have not trusted the cdc for quite a while. I don’t believe you have either. It is terrifying really
Bolton, England, has issued a stern travel advisory for its citizens. Basically, don’t leave town unless absolutely necessary. https://www.theboltonnews.co.uk/news/19325835.people-living-bolton-told-not-travel-town-new-guidelines-stop-indian-variant-coronavirus/
This may be followed by a number of other English towns that are under the B.1.6172 siege, if you will.
Covid may be on the run (NYT uses that language, not me), but it’s employing a guerrilla warfare strategy akin to the Minutemen in 1775.
And what was that 1775 Minutemen strategy exactly?
I’m curious too. I’m thinking hiding behind walls…..then it was rocks
Didnt we already know this?
https://www.cnbc.com/2021/05/24/gottlieb-says-theres-growing-circumstantial-evidence-that-covid-may-have-originated-in-a-lab.html?__source=iosappshare%7Ccom.apple.UIKit.activity.Mail
Yes, we did. At this point it appears to be politically motivated. I’m not a fan of China – especially the lack of transparency early on – but I do NOT believe this was an intentional leak, if it even was a leak.
The U.S., like most nations, has hidden MANY things from public view; many horrific things, and we’ve done it for as long as our Republic has existed. While we have a much better government than China, I am not one to praise the transparency of the U.S. government in any of its international dealings, regardless of who’s in the White House.
In terms of epidemics, from HIV to Covid, many of our leaders have lacked transparency, refused to level with us, and sometimes (in the case of HIV) refused to even acknowledge the problem at all. Some even blamed the victims and their `sinful’ behavior.
In terms of federal government experiments, like Tuskegee and also nuclear tests, the U.S. has been notorious.
In terms of top secret missions to topple democratically elected governments, from Iran to Chile to Guatemala, the U.S. is right up there.
So, all this talk about whether there was a lab leak – perhaps there was; we don’t know – just feels so self-righteous to me.
May I invoke Christ. As a Jew, I believe it’s the greatest statement made by him: “Let him who is without sin, cast the first stone” and “go, and sin no more”
These articles take a lot out of me, but I do learn quite a bit. I enjoy the learning more than the writing, especially learning about how different nations cope with Covid-19. My latest is on Japan, a country that has fared very well compared to us. But, lately, owing in large part to a sluggish vaccination campaign, it’s been experiencing a 4th wave.
Amid the latest Covid-19 surge in Japan, a large majority of Japanese want to postpone or even cancel the Summer Olympics, set to begin in Tokyo in two months. https://www.forbes.com/sites/joshuacohen/2021/05/24/japans-healthcare-system-under-severe-strain-as-4th-wave-of-covid-19-poses-threat-to-olympic-games/?sh=75ee1f76c575
Great article Joshua! The Olympics situation is a real conundrum.
Do you have any opinion on why the vaccination rate is so low in Japan compared with peer countries?
I second SClarke’s comment. I am shocked by the 4.4 percent
Philip, my reference to the Minutemen was metaphorical. The virus is elusive at times, appears to hide for periods of time, strikes opportunistically, etc … Sort of like our great and brave Patriots in 1775.
Joshua, we only have to look as far as Lyme disease and plum island where ticks were being tested. The boats that transported staff to and from the US mainland originated right around Lyme, CT. And we have yet to take responsibility for that. Gibbs (NCIS) rule 39 is that there is no such thing as coincidence
Japan’s vaccination rate is REALLY problematic. Taiwan’s, too. Both nations have done much better in terms of mitigation: Comparatively very few deaths. But, they both dropped the ball when it came to vaccination.
Clearly, after making a sham of mitigation, the U.S. has done a much better job in terms of vaccinations. As Churchill said: Americans will always do the right thing, only after they have tried everything.
Now that makes me laugh ….when there is very little to laugh about. How absolutely prophetic
C-19 for 5-25 is ready.