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2021-03-01

Skeptic's flawed analysis of pandemics over a century using data that ignores population growth and globalization.

The attached image was used as evidence in an article for pandemic skeptics to make a "realistic risk assessment" of their danger during the COVID-19 pandemic in an article originally published in March 2021. The image utilizes only the mortality rate of England and Wales over the last century to visually "show" that COVID-19 is just a "blip" on the map. They are seemingly hinting through an image that this pandemic is fake news compared to world wars or influenza, using data to propagandize skepticism. What is misleading about this data is that they are using numbers of today against nearly one hundred years ago and are not contextualizing the numbers at all. At first glance one can see the overall mortality rate is going down. Of course, this is due to improved science, sanitization, water, and medicine over this time period. We must not also forget that this rate has gone down because the number of people in England and Wales, as in all life on our Earth, has increased. Like all math problems, the larger the denominator the small the rate. For example, if 100 people died out of a population of 1,000, the mortality rate is 10% (100/1000x100). But, if 100 people died in a population of 10,000, the mortality rate is only 1 percent (100/10000x100). Trying to compare numbers in a situation where the world population is much different and globalized, is not an equal comparison. I believe this is misleading persuasive propaganda that skeptics used to make COVID look like not a big deal. However, the risk factors have much more to do with your age, location, health history, interaction with other people, and how your surrounding areas respond to a pandemic, none of which is contextualized in this vague graph.

2021-07-14

Pandemia ha dejado 498 mil 164 muertes más de las esperadas en México [Pandemic has left 498,164 more deaths than expected in Mexico]

México registra un exceso de mortalidad de 498 mil 164 personas fallecidas a lo largo de la pandemia de coronavirus. Del total, 71 por ciento, es decir, 353 mil 858 se asocian a la enfermedad de COVID-19 y el resto a otro tipo de causas. De acuerdo con el reporte “Exceso de mortalidad en México” de la Secretaría de Salud, señala que, entre diciembre de 2019 y la semana epidemiológica 22 (que va del 30 de mayo al 5 de junio de 2021), se esperaba un millón 70 mil 79 muertes por distintas causas, pero el registro es de un millón 568 mil 243, es decir, 46.6% más. Con respecto al género, el exceso de mortalidad se ha presentado principalmente en hombre con 319 mil 967 decesos, de los cuales 144 mil 703 tienen confirmación de muerte por SARS-CoV-2. Mexico has an excess mortality of 498,164 people killed during the coronavirus pandemic. Of the total, 71 percent, or 353,858 are associated with COVID-19 disease and the rest are associated with other causes. According to the report “Excessive mortality in Mexico” of the Ministry of Health, notes that between December 2019 and the 22nd epidemiological week (from May 30 to June 5, 2021), 70,079 deaths from different causes were expected. but the record is 568,243, that is, 46.6% more. With regard to gender, excess mortality has occurred mainly in men with 319,967 deaths, of which 144,703 have confirmed death by SARS-CoV-2.

2021-06-01

Peru

As the US relaxes its COVID restrictions and business goes back to "normal" we quickly forgot that we were dealing with a global pandemic. Around the world countries are still suffering, people are still dying, COVID is not gone. CNN- "Peru has more than doubled its official death toll from the Covid-19 pandemic following a government review of the figures, leaving the country with the highest coronavirus-related death rate per capita in the world."

2021-04-05

40,000 children have lost a parent to Covid-19

(NEXSTAR) – In a grim reminder of the death toll from COVID-19, a new study published by the American Medical Association found that nearly 40,000 U.S. children have lost one of their parents to the virus. It’s a heartbreaking new angle to the number of U.S. deaths since the pandemic began – 555,273 as of Monday afternoon, according to Johns Hopkins University. “This may come as a surprise, since 81% of lives lost in the US have been adults 65+,” study author Rachel Margolis, an associate professor at the University of Western Ontario, tweeted. “However, we are also seeing high mortality among younger adults, many of whom have children under 18.”

2021-02-28

Building Trust in the Vaccine

When I was pregnant and going to birthing classes, I learned the terrifying rates of mortality for Black women giving birth. The numbers were horrifying, so there is no wonder to me why a high percentage of Black Americans do not plan on getting the COVID-19 vaccine. The American healthcare system has failed them. But a group of Black doctors are standing up to tell their communities that not taking the vaccine is to risk their life, and they deserve better. This video, shared to NowThisNews on twitter, describes what the doctors' message is and why it is so important. Black lives do matter, which is why these doctors are urging everyone to get the vaccine. The video states that more Black Americans have died from COVID than any other ethnic group. Hopefully, the vaccine will stop these deaths.

2020-04-17

COVID-19 and Social Justice

From the article: The COVID-19 pandemic is a health and mental health crisis, to be sure. But it is also a crisis of social injustice, inequitably affecting vulnerable and marginalized populations that include, among others, individuals who earn low incomes, or are incarcerated, homeless, in foster care, over 65 (especially those in long-term care facilities), people of color, or undocumented. Social work practitioners, educators, and policy makers are working to address the needs of these populations despite the unpredictability of the virus’s secondary impact on systems.

2021-01-27

Covid-19 Vaccines Mean an End to Isolation at a Retirement Home

Retirement home residents have started to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. For many, this means they can visit loved ones in different care units and see family. However, high COVID-19 rates are keeping some retirement and other care homes from letting their residents visit or have visitors.

2020-03-13

My Thoughts on The Virus

I have read many statistics and learned much about this virus and I have come to a conclusion that it is dangerous and what doctors have been saying since the start is totally correct, I heard that it won't stop until almost everyone on earth has gotten it, and that is slowly becoming a reality, but i also heard that the mortality rate will remain at 1% no matter what which has also shown to be true. The one thing that bothers me though is that scientists said it could last up to 2 years, which is starting to sound realistic and not extremely exaggerated. My final thoughts in this virus are that we should all do our best to stay safe and listen to doctors.

2020-12-10

United States Shatters Single-Day Death Toll

On December 9, 2020, the United States broke a single-day death record with over 3,000 deaths in 24 hours. These deaths come as a result as the huge surge in cases the United States is seeing as winter sets in.

2020-06-24

COVID-19 Outbreak Among College Students After a Spring Break Trip to Mexico

While the coronavirus was likely in the US in late 2019 or very early 2020 the pandemic was declared for a few months and the public didn't begin reacting until March. In March a large group of University of Texas (Austin) students traveled together over spring break to Mexico. Upon returning a large number of them came up positive for the virus though many were asymptomatic. The Center for Disease Control (CDC) has published this document, a morbidity and mortality report, on the group.

2020-04-17

Life In Isolation: The Coronavirus... Cynthia Carr

A virtual exhibition by the Evansville Museum of Art, History and Science

2020-04-26

A Memorial Is Never Small

A police station was situated a few years back in my neighborhood, which was a welcome addition as the otherwise quiet neighborhood had been experiencing low level crime and quality of life issues. For the first time in my life, I will be served multiple glimpses into a working police station as I would use the subway stop multiple times, albeit not during the covid lock down as I was staying indoors for an extended period. At one point I decided to 'break quarantine' and head into Manhattan where I came across this memorial to some officers who passed away due to covid-19. I was living in NYC during 9-11 and seen the various impromptu memorials to all those first responders; there had also been a previous memorial to an officer killed in a non-work related incident (I believe but I am not sure and only included to provide context to the memorial). This was a disquieting discovery because these officers were stricken by a virus that they would not have known where, when or how they were infected. While I was indoors all that time; even though I knew there were many essential workers who were being felled but I did not see their faces and names in such an up close yet quiet fashion. It was what their brother & sister officers could do and that is all that matters.

2020-05-25

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