Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast

Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by DiogenesKynikos on Saturday February 20, 2021 @11:41AM (#26205461)

The US did far too little to control the spread of the virus, which is why half a million Americans have died. The problem wasn't that people were too scared. It was that there wasn't coordinated, decisive action - specifically, a strict lockdown for several weeks in early 2020 to bring incidence to near zero, followed by rigorous contact-tracing and snuffing out of outbreaks as they occurred. China did this, and as a consequence, fewer than 5000 people have died there, and people have been able to go about their lives more normally for the last year.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by throwaway20875 on Saturday February 20, 2021 @11:50AM (#26205548)

Yes, you're right - in order to take more effective action we need to plaster a running death count to the TV screen 24/7 for every American media consumer to view. Time Warner/Comcast/Viacom/Fox know what's best for us and it has absolutely nothing to do with them manipulating emotions for profit.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by DiogenesKynikos on Saturday February 20, 2021 @11:56AM (#26205623)

It's just not been my impression at all that people are too worried in the US about the number of deaths. Quite the opposite, actually. The most stunning aspect of the pandemic, to me, has been how American society has accepted half a million deaths. I would have considered that unthinkable just a year ago.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by throwaway20875 on Saturday February 20, 2021 @12:02PM (#26205690)

I agree with you.

But COVID is not unique: people have been dying unnecessary deaths in this country for a long time, and have accelerated in recent years. Go read up on deaths of despair. Look at the rise in healthcare costs, or how unhealthy our food is. It's no wonder that a society of unhealthy, isolated, and stressed people are succumbing to a disease that kills those with suppressed immune systems.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by DiogenesKynikos on Saturday February 20, 2021 @12:09PM (#26205768)

The reason for the large number of deaths in the US is not that Americans have suppressed immune systems, are stressed, or are otherwise unhealthy. It's that the virus has been allowed to spread. The infection fatality rate in the US is not 500x higher than in China. The number of infections per capita is, however. The difference is that one country had a strict lockdown, followed by rigorous contact tracing, and the other did not.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by throwaway20875 on Saturday February 20, 2021 @12:20PM (#26205892)

I think other Western nations are better comparisons for a number of reasons. I don't think discussing China's approach is a productive conversation.

>The reason for the large number of deaths in the US is not that Americans have suppressed immune systems, are stressed, or are otherwise unhealthy.

I disagree. And even if we were to stop COVID from killing so many, it's reckless to consider this as not a significant contributor to any unnecessary deaths. New variants of existing diseases are inevitable.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by DiogenesKynikos on Saturday February 20, 2021 @02:34PM (#26207063)

If you don't want to discuss China, then you can look at Australia and New Zealand, both of which brought incidence down to near zero.

But there's no reason not to discuss China. It's the elephant in the room. A country of 1.4 billion people essentially ended community transmission and then opened up society again.

> I disagree.

There's nothing to disagree or agree about. The virus is not 500x more deadly in the US than in China. That's a fact, whether or not you agree. The overwhelming factor is simply the number of people who get infected in the first place.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by BrianOnHN on Saturday February 20, 2021 @11:48AM (#26205531)

It's [actually not] funny the same people that oppose this are the same ones that think they have the right to:

1. Consequence-less broadcasting of any speech (i.e., sympathizing with nazis and lying to vulnerable people about life-threatening illness).

2. Unfettered access to life-ending technology (guns)

3. Unwavering support for unborn lives.

Smh

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by testesttest on Saturday February 20, 2021 @11:58AM (#26205646)

Lots of assumtions. Maybe, they just want their kid to be able to return to school.

Also, this response is the reason for the anon account. People on the internet are quick to categorize and demonize.

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Re:Coronavirus Mutants Are Spreading Fast by Gravey on Saturday February 20, 2021 @01:13PM (#26206375)

While there may be some strong arguments for the China approach to COVID management, I’m not sure I find your enumerated list of ad-hominem strawmans and head shaking very convincing.

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