Based on actions and attitudes widely observed in multiple countries, many (including leaders?) have moved on. While the corona virus surges like a wildfire (https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/coronavirus-us-cases.html), sometimes it feels like the world is just “over it.” Beaches, demonstrations, restaurants and bars… they’re all filling up, along with hospitals – and deaths will mount. If you were King, what would you do?
1) COVID-19 Is Surging: Do We Even Care? If So, What Do We DO?
Proclaim the Gospel.
Call the nation and the world to repentance.
Stop the killing: defund and stop all elective abortions.
Stop the war: bring all the troops home from the War on Terror.
Stop the war: close all military bases outside US territories.
Stop the war: declare victory in the War on Drugs and cease all related economic and military interventions.
Stop the economic wars: immediately stop all economic sanctions and tariffs.
Audit and eliminate the Federal Reserve Bank.
Advertise influenza treatments that work now, ex. Vitamins C & D.
One reader responded, “Deaths have rapidly declined related to this virus. Less than 1% of the population in the U.S. has been infected (far less than the flu) and less than 1% who are infected, die (and that percentage is rapidly shrinking). Please don’t feed the media’s fear mongering.”
We replied, “Deaths have indeed declined, brother. A mere 124,300 people in the USA have been killed by this illness. A mere 124,300.
“Brother, may we speak forthrightly? Has our political apparatus failed us so desperately that the lives of 124,300 people matter so little to you brother? Did the 911 tragedies affect you? The 911 tragedies involved the deaths of a small fraction of this number, brother. I’m so sorry – but I’m not following your logic at all. And we know that deaths ARE following infections, at least fractionally. To prevent deaths, we have to prevent infections. Does this not matter to your church? Does this not matter to a caring God?”
Help us understand how this works, please?
Doug,
The picture presented to us by the media is skewed by the fact that the CDC has
– replaced its previous practice of reporting only CONFIRMED cases of diseases (such as COVID), and
– shifted since April 5th to ALSO including “PROBABLE” cases, even without a confirming test:
“A COVID-19 case includes confirmed and probable cases and deaths. … A probable case or death is defined as … with no confirmatory laboratory testing performed for COVID-19 …”
(from the CDC COVID FAQ page—cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/covid-data/faq-surveillance.html)
To get a better feel for what is really happening, look at the CDC data for TOTAL US deaths in comparison with previous years.
The first figure in this article shows there was indeed an eight week spike in overall US deaths from COVID—from the week ending March 28 through the week ending May 16th. See the first graph at http://cohealthchoice.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/Lessons-from-the-Lockdown-vF-6-17-20.pdf
However since the middle of May the TOTAL number of people dying in the U.S. has NOT been significantly different than it was at this time in the past several years.
As this article proceeds to show, the five states that did NOT impose lockdown restrictions fared as well or better than many states that instituted lock down measures.
Hi Robby. Boy – I don’t know. Seems like some writers held out high hopes for theories like the ones you mention. For example, see this article, with a tantalizing headline along the lines of the headlines you mentioned:
https://www.northsidesun.com/columns/states-did-not-lock-down-fared-better-neighbors#sthash.gDEEPD3Q.dpbs
But then compare it to the way Mississippi’s graph looks over all, at the New York Times tracking site (not the CDC):
https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/mississippi-coronavirus-cases.html
That’s not the state or country I want to be. I’d lots rather be a country like New Zealand, how quarantined and social distanced like CRAZY until they completely eliminated the threat:
https://www.health.govt.nz/our-work/diseases-and-conditions/covid-19-novel-coronavirus/covid-19-current-situation/covid-19-current-cases
Scroll down until you see their “Daily Confirmed and Probable Cases.” Again, I have no dog in this fight. I’d just rather we boost our economy by helping everybody HEAL from this virus – instead of having to order the reclosures that Texas and Florida and others are now experiencing:
https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/reopening-reverses-course-in-texas-and-florida-as-coronavirus-cases-spike/2020/06/26/72eb5f6a-b7c5-11ea-a510-55bf26485c93_story.html
Moral of the story: Can we please just BEAT this virus — instead of try to ignore its nasty potential?
And most of all, can we pray to God for safety for our medical professionals, guidance for our leaders, and steeled resolve for our citizens.
I read the paper by Amy Becker and Mark Blaxill. Who are they, by the way? I glanced through the website at https://www.cohealthchoice.org/ and, frankly, it appeared extremely political in nature. There are some pretty clear attempts there to impact legislation. With deep respect, I wish we could hear voices that weren’t focused on trying to sway voters — and I wish we could hear the voices of medical professionals. For example, Yale Medical released an updated report today (June 29th) saying the virus has killed 1/2 million people. 500,000 people is a LOT of people. At the site of 9/11, authorities staged memorials year after year so we wouldn’t forget the 4000 people who died at the hands of terrorists. This illness has claimed more than 100 TIMES that number. Make not mistake: This illness is nasty. The Mayo Clinic has provided a laundry list of those who have been impacted most severely. For all who have loved ones in these risk brackets (including seniors, aged 65 and up), Covid’s severe potential should not be minimized. https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/coronavirus/in-depth/coronavirus-who-is-at-risk/art-20483301 . But hey – I’m not an epidemiologist. Again, speaking with deep respect, it just seems super-important to hear the voices of medical experts like Yale Medicine, Mayo Clinic and others – as opposed merely to those who overtly are trying to write with a political agenda in mind. Right?
As a non-American I feel saddened by the flu epidemic in the USA. However it is important that everyone seek true information, and stop listening to their friends or even the media. As an example in 2018 Italy had 68,000 flu related deaths. To date Italy has had less than 35,000 Covid 19 related deaths. Yes, we are saddened when deaths occur, but many countries have seen a DROP in flu related deaths during the Covid pandemic. Most credit this to wearing masks, social distancing, and the closing of public places, including schools. However, when I view photos from the USA, and speak to my American friends, it seems that only a faction of people in the USA are taking precautions. Other countries have had strict lockdowns. People have been confined to their homes. The police and army enforce the rules. Here in my small town in Canada, the police fined a neighbor couple $510 each for crossing provincial boundaries. I cannot enter stores because I am over 65, but the stores have worked out phone-in service and curb side delivery. Are face masks and travel bans being enforced in the USA? Restrictions do work, but I fear that many people in the USA are ignoring them and in the end the general public suffers and the politicians take the blame.