As the stock market loses one-quarter of its value due to the Coronavirus panic, we are told that we must stay vigilant because of the virus’s deadly consequences. Even though we know that these deadly consequences are overwhelming among well identified risk groups, we have taken actions that are not targeted but impact on wide numbers of individuals who are at virtually no risk of serious health consequences: school, entertainment, and business closing among them.
First, the death rates may be greatly inflated. The WHO continues to announce a death rate of 3.4 percent even though virtually no serious scientist believes it is so high. Using the numbers from South Korea, you get a rate just under 0.7 percent. Given those who were asymptomatic and not tested, the actual rate is probably substantially lower. This brings into question the claim by America’s chief immunologist Anthony Fauci that Coronavirus death rates are ten times the ordinary flu. Indeed, in Germany, among the first 4,000 cases reported, there have only been 8 deaths and with inclusion of asymptomatic cases the death rate is even lower than in South Korea. However, the focus instead is on Italy, promoting the fear that our healthcare system will be overwhelmed if we don’t take draconian measures.
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