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Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by aeternum on Thursday September 24, 2020 @08:47PM (#24585362)
This seems to assume all of the excess deaths are directly attributable to Covid-19, but shouldn't we consider the possibility that our reaction to Covid-19 could also play a role, things like: generally increased levels of stress, suicide rate, elderly more depressed due to no in-person visitors, less exercise?
Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by pwned1 on Thursday September 24, 2020 @09:32PM (#24585698)
And lots of people avoiding the doctor’s office or hospital because they are afraid to go.
Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by mcgt on Thursday September 24, 2020 @11:14PM (#24586225)
I'm looking into this gap right now. In the US for example, deaths from dementia so far this year are much higher than the average for the past five years (up until ~Aug 15). There's also a not insignificant amount of notes saying deaths are being underreported in a lot of jurisdictions.

Pretty much across the board jumps for most major causes of death. Haven't pulled in anything on suicides yet. Interestingly though, deaths from lower respiratory disease are down for all regions of the US. I wondered how much that has to do with less traffic/air pollution which might otherwise aggravate that?

Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by thu2111 on Friday September 25, 2020 @06:53AM (#24588533)
Isn't it more likely that deaths from other kinds of respiratory diseases are being re-classified as COVID?
Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by mcgt on Friday September 25, 2020 @01:46PM (#24592263)
My thoughts were the same, but nothing I've seen (yet) would suggest that. Though deaths by dementia seem to be up far above the 5 year average (especially in the Southern US).

Total mortality up to Aug 15 is up at least 580k over the 5 year average from what I'm seeing right now, fwiw. Probably will post it here on HN once I've got everything tied together.

Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by fred_is_fred on Thursday September 24, 2020 @11:29PM (#24586316)
If anything I think most people (at least where I live in Colorado) are getting significantly more exercise. Everyone is outside biking, hiking, running, paddling, fishing, etc. They may not be doing a Pilates class or on a treadmill, but are exercising none the less. And with no endless stream of school events and kids sports, I can go hiking every day after work if I want. I've never spent this much time outside since I was probably 12 years old.
Re:The Covid-19 pandemic is worse than official figures show by kalleboo on Thursday September 24, 2020 @11:11PM (#24586207)
In some places, excess death is now lower than recent average years, probably due to less commuting and other dangerous activities.