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How are you handling anxiety in this time of COVID-19?
Depression & Anxiety | Last Active: May 26, 2020 | Replies (190)Comment receiving replies
@soliloquized Just so you know, you are welcome to post links to other sites, provided they are based in sound science and not just from social media or conspiracy theory sites, even if they may not agree with everything you read here.
I also read the article to which you are referring, which was written over a month ago. I agree there is much we do not know about Covid-19. But here are some things we DO know which differentiate if from seasonal influenza, many of which are just now becoming clear:
There is no immunity, meaning everyone who comes into contact with the virus can get it, and therefore pass it on, whether they themselves feel ill or not. This is especially perilous to vulnerable populations, who often have other challenges that prevent them from keeping THEMSELVES safe - such as congregate living, homelessness, repeated exposure to caregivers who may also be in contact with people who are ill...
It is up to 2.5 times more contagious than influenza - meaning it spreads exponentially - very obvious in populations like packing plants, where people work side-by-side, large groups of workers suddenly become ill, and spread the virus widely in the community.
There is emerging evidence that this virus is able to attack circulatory system, lungs, kidneys and other organs in such a way that is causes serious, possibly permanent damage, even in young and apparently healthy people.
My daughter works in a metropolitan emergency department where large numbers of people are being treated for Covid-19 complications, and she reports the opposite regarding death rate - they must over-justify counting a death as related to the virus in the absence of a positive test, and at the same time are not allowed to administer the test to those who have "obvious" Covid-19 symptoms because there is still a shortage of testing capacity.
Finally, once there is widespread availability and use of antibody screening tests, I also believe the death rate will decline.
But there is NO WAY this is like seasonal flu - we have seen, at a minimum, 40,000 deaths in less than 2 months, which represents at least 250,000 deaths in one year, or 3 to 10 times as many as influenza.
I would refer you to https://newsnetwork.mayoclinic.org/category/covid-19/ for up-to-date information about the virus, the latest research, and what each of us can do to remain safe.
Sue
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Actually, the article I was referring to was just released on the 17th of April. Here is 1 Hour and 12 Minutes of the Doctor/Professor/Epidemiologist Explaining why the death count is likely much lower than stated, he's enjoyable to watch because he's not political. I hope you, and others, enjoy it as much as my wife and I have.
Perspectives on the Pandemic | Dr. John Ioannidis Update: 4.17.20 | Episode 4
While I have your attention, let me tell you things that I know. I taught Air Purifying Respirators for nearly 8 years, to 1200 people per year, in classes of 35 or so, in an Industrial Setting. I've been through the information before. N-95 - does any one even know what the N Means? It means Not Oil Resistant, versus R-95 that are Oil Resistant, and P-95, which is oil proof - There's 95%, 99%, and 99.97% (basically 100%) that refer to the ability of the respirators to filter particles 0.3 microns in diameter or larger. The virus in question is smaller than 0.125 microns? I'm at a loss to see how professionals are sufficiently protected by a respirator that is not only permitting the virus to pass through the filtering media, albeit in small numbers, but that also, by the nature of the respirator (Negative Pressure Filtering Facepiece Respirators and Elastomeric Respirators [the kind used with replaceable cartridges] both types experience leaks at the face to facepiece seal. 3M advises against the use of such respirators for dangerous pathogens for that very reason. Yet not only are the respirators not available to the public, not only are they allowing a reduced percentage of pathogens around the seal or through the filtering element anyway, but the eyes are an entry point for the virus as well. So the authorities say to wrap a scarf around your face and you're protected? This entire pandemic, from the U.S. and world perspective, is not being handled according the harm that they tell us is occurring (and I am not saying it's a hoax). I believe the media may be overstating things so that people take it seriously, and people should take it seriously, especially those in higher risk categories and those that visit such people. But conspiracy theories can involve the overstating of a situation as well as understating it. I think we're programmed to think of certain people when we say Conspiracy Theories, and yes, I've read older articles by Stanford Epidemiologists saying the situation is being over stated, but with the new study from California, they appear to be right.
At some point we must consider the deaths from a wrecked economy possibly exceeding the deaths from the virus. I only stated to relax when I researched and discovered statistics on other diseases, such as up to 80,000+ deaths from the flu in the U.S. on some bad years, and 600,000 World Wide.
If it's so contagious, and the respirators leak, and permeate, as I said, and I can offer the 3M Documentation saying that such respirators must not be used for dangerous pathogens, something just isn't right with what we're seeing.
You cannot extrapolate the deaths in 2 months to a years worth of flu deaths, the flu deaths occur over 4 months top. 80,000 deaths in a flu season a few years ago is 20,000 per month averaged over 4 months, and 26,000+ per month averaged over 3 months. At this time. we simply don't know if this virus will continue through the summer, I agree if the rate would continue unabated the situation would be worrisome. Watch the video, he's advocating a slow return to normal, when it's decided that it's time. So people can be reassured, but I agree, we must all still be careful.
Thank you for the response.