March 26, 2020
written by Net Advisor™
WASHINGTON, DC. Much of the world, especially media and certain politicians seemed to go into panic mode over Covid-19 (aka Coronavirus). The result of the media-driven panic sent the U.S. and global stocks into a Bear Market in a matter of a few weeks. The public responded to this panic by preparing for the coming ‘Zombie’ Apocalypse.
The U.S. economy went from a record 50-year low unemployment, with higher income for low and middle class families, to virtually millions temporarily out of work from Covid-19 fears.
Reality Check & Perspective.
As shocking as some will have people think, in 2017, some 80,000 people died from the Flu virus (aka, the common cold). This was the highest number of U.S. Flu deaths in 40 years.
In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) states that worldwide, up to 650,000 people die each year of respiratory diseases from “seasonal Flu virus,” yet, people still travel, work, and mingle.
Despite the panic over Covid-19, the number one leading cause of death in the USA can be more attributed to a life-time of a poor diet, and perhaps just being outdoors under sunlight.
We examined the latest data of the leading causes of (non-violent) deaths in the USA. Then we calculated the percentage of people who died from the top 10 causes of death who were over 65 years of age.
With the exceptions of unintentional injury and suicide, our findings suggest that 70-99% of all deaths occur during advanced age. Chart:
Now compare the Top 10 leading causes of death in the USA (chart above) to the current number of deaths in the USA related to Covid-19, (Graphic below).
Thus, as of today, one is 48 times more likely to commit suicide than die from Covid-19. One is also 59 times more likely to die from the Flu virus (if 65+). One is 650 times more likely to die of a heart attack after age 65 than die from Covid-19 today.
Yet, we don’t see a mass panic to shut down all the greasy hamburger fast food restaurants, let alone a need to shut down the country. Nor are we requiring everyone to wear monitors and cameras (oh wait, cell phones with GPS tracking) to check and make sure the government gets instant data on everyone just to make sure no one becomes suicidal?
Flu Has Killed More Than Covid-19. Flu Map Less Scary?
The Influenza (Flu Virus) CDC map (below) just doesn’t look as scary compared to what we call the Corona Virus ‘Assault’ Map (red and black map above). Yet the Flu killed 59x the number of people last year compared to Covid-19 so far this year. Yes, data is still coming in for Covid-19, but so is the Flu; and so is the data on every other disease and illness out there.
The Flu also can infect anyone and everyone, regardless of health or age; were as Covid-19 has thus far shown a tendency to infect those with existing serious heath issues (CDC updates).
“Based upon available information to date, those at high-risk for severe illness from COVID-19 include:
- People aged 65 years and older.
- People who live in a nursing home or long-term care facility.
- Other high-risk conditions could include:
- People with chronic lung disease or moderate to severe asthma.
- People who have heart disease with complications.
- People who are immunocompromised including cancer treatment.
- People of any age with severe obesity (body mass index [(BM]I)≥40) or certain underlying medical conditions, particularly if not well controlled, such as those with diabetes, renal failure, or liver disease might also be at risk.
- People who are pregnant should be monitored since they are known to be at risk with severe viral illness, however, to date data on COVID-19 has not shown increased risk.”
— Source: CDC, March. 22, 2020. (Bold emphases added)(CDC updates).
Sure anything can happen, data is still coming out. But the initial fears have not demonstrated to be as draconian as we have been lead to believe.
Professionals Who Are Not on TV, but Perhaps Should.
A Canadian doctor wrote in part that he was not afraid of Covid-19, but more so of mass panic.
“What I am scared about is the loss of reason and wave of fear that has induced the masses of society into a spellbinding spiral of panic, stockpiling obscene quantities of anything that could fill a bomb shelter adequately in a post-apocalyptic world.”
— Abdu Sharkawy, 20-Year Infectious Disease Specialist, University of Toronto, Canada. Source: Business Insider, Mar. 8, 2020.
Author and Psychotherapist encourages people not to panic over Covid-19. He seems to suggest to turn the TV off.
“Long-standing research shows that chronic TV watchers and news followers have elevated fears because everything they see starts to feel like it’s happening outside their front door.”
— Bryan E. Robinson, Author and Psychotherapist. Source: Forbes, Mar. 12, 2020
Sure, people want to get news, read about what’s going on, but be careful not to allow it to become an obsession as many have done with TDS. One can dislike or disagree with anyone they want, but if it affect one’s every-day living that’s a problem, and perhaps treatment should be sought.
Managing. Ready For Work.
As much as many who lack understanding of markets and economics, one can’t keep a country or a planet from necessity: the production of labor, goods and services in order to serve a public. The government can’t do everything.
We’ve read many social media postings from radicals that everything needs to be provided by the government and for free. If no one is working or producing, we just can’t print money forever.
Venezuela moved that direction and their entire country went from one of the wealthiest nations in the western hemisphere to a total economic collapse and chaos ensued.
In the USA, 50 years fighting the War on Poverty didn’t eliminate poverty, it got worse through 2016.
As with the Flu-type issues, if workers are ill, they should be sent home or not go to work. Get rest, drink plenty of fluids and take care of one’s health. Yes, many need the money, but the current $2.2 Trillion economic aid package should help to provide some economic relief.
That cash cushion is to help the public with extra time to ride out the current issues, while medical professionals and the Administration look for how best to further manage economic and health risks.
As for the stock market, it could retest its recent lows, but moving toward solutions is positive for the market and the economy. Now it’s time to start planning how best to get at least major parts of the economy back to work.
Managing the work environment can include the popular social distancing, carrying sanitizer, moisturizing lotion (so hands don’t get dry from sanitizer). Those who are sick with just common cold, no fervor, and come to work, perhaps using proper surgical masks to help reduce the spread of their illness to others.
Surgical masks don’t prevent one from becoming ill, but rather N95 masks may help reduce the ill person from coughing and sneezing and exhaling onto others.
“The use of surgical masks or respirators is one practice that may reduce the risk of infectious disease transmission between infected and noninfected persons.
Since there is limited historical information on the effectiveness of surgical masks and respirators for the control of influenza during any previous pandemics, the effectiveness of surgical masks and respirators has been inferred on the basis of the mode of influenza transmission, particle size and professional judgment.”
Keep in mind, that Covid-19 is a tiny issue on the historic virus scale; yet some have made the issue as if we are all just six feet from possible death.
Retail stores such as Walmart, Kroger and other stores have announced their intention to install Plexiglas barriers at the cash register in every location in the USA. GM, Ford, Tesla, 3M and many others are turning some of their plants into making respirators. This requires people to work.
Americans historically have found a way to get through far worse including Two World Wars. We’re pretty sure an outcome will present itself and the U.S. will get back to work again.
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