Whatever the mortality rate of COVID 19, containment is VITAL

[pat_k]

8. Intent was not to "give air" -- it was to knock some air out by...

... pointing out the whole debate is irrelevant to the need for efforts to detect, trace, quarantine, cancel events, work from home, and do whatever else we can to contain it.

But, of course you are right. The estimate is what it is. I guess my point is that even if endemic COVID 19 caused no more deaths than the flu, we must do everything in our power to prevent those deaths. The number is certainly not as horrific as the number of deaths at a rate of 3.4%, but horrific nonetheless.

As far as DT being the only one disputing. Sadly, a lot of the reporting of the mortality rate I've seen comes with some sort of qualification that the rate is probably lower because mild cases go undetected. Every time I see this, it pisses me off -- to me the qualification carries the implication that a lower mortality rate would somehow be OK and require no action.