Death toll and hysteria

[CathyandHeathcliff]

I was just thinking if every death from every illness was reported daily in the way the current deaths from Covid are, people would never leave the house again, surely?

The current total of deaths worldwide is less than the population of the town I grew up in. Putting it like that makes me feel weird. Whenever I see the numbers, I like others, panic. My DP said tonight that most people aren’t used to seeing these numbers, in this context so they don’t properly understand them.

I also keep seeing people on social media and on here saying things won’t ever go back to normality as we knew it. I keep thinking that the world and country went through two world wars, with a pandemic thrown in the middle for good measure, and still came out of it and back to normality soon enough. More people lost their lives in the blitz than have so far died of Covid.
I’m hoping my post doesn’t offend anyone, but the whole thing is confusing me and a lot of it doesn’t add up to me either.

Well if that's your attitude 🤐

Well our local ICU has triple the beds and no other patients apart from covid-19 so no it’s not just the normal daily deaths

The ONS just reported the highest amount of deaths in a week since records began make of that what you will.

But there have been demonstrably more deaths than there would have been during this period in a “normal” year so we are dealing with something unprecedented - and frightening.

I agree however that many of us are having to think about our own mortality in a way in which we would not normally do, if at all. My Aunt was telling me that 40,000 people a year die from sepsis .

This will get worse, tgere will be a 2nd wave more people will die. We are 6000 more deaths this month compared to last year this is far from over.

I definitely disagree. And the data should be there, for people who actually do want to read it.

(Which I had no idea about - and of course the same goes for many other diseases).

The ONS just reported the highest amount of deaths in a week since records began make of that what you will.

Yes, 6000 extra deaths than normal in just one week is really worrying. There must be hugely more numbers dying of it within the community/care homes than are being officially recorded, plus maybe more deaths from non-covid related causes because the health system is so busy dealing with Covid.

I find your response odd. No, this isn't normal. It's not insignificant.

The daily death rates are misleading they aren't counting the people who have died at home, hospices or care homes etc etc some of the deaths will be due to covid19

If ever there was a time when it was bizarre to dismiss a proportionate response to an extreme set of circumstances, this is it. I don't think you'd be this blase if you worked in ICU on a regular basis and saw the influx of incredibly sick, otherwise fit and healthy folk. Have you not seen any of their posts?

It’s not just the numbers who are dying, it’s the fact they’re being taken before their time. And a nurse friend was saying how upsetting it was having so many die so quickly - this isn’t the hospital staff’s normal working conditions, it’s very distressing to them especially when they’re working so hard to help.

Remember these numbers are real people. This week we lost a family friend to covid 18, and have so many cases in the local area - including a very healthy mum who’s been in ICU near death for two weeks. I wish people would remember these numbers were loved ones, our family and friends and neighbours. I’m not sure what your post is getting at? It seems some areas aren’t as hard hit as ours, it’s so tiring and upsetting going through this. We have serious corona fatigue and I wish I could say from staying inside - no, it’s from the bad news of our area being hit by this.

I’m not saying it’s not insignificant, but everyday I’m getting more confused when looking at the figures. I know it’s a serious issue, but I still can’t get my head around it all, maybe it’s being in lockdown too long! Nothing is making sense.

They are still people someones family member. Could be one of you're family members. Don't forget those numbers don't include deaths at home or nursing homes, the numbers are from hospital admissions the numbers will be far greater.

I keep thinking that the world and country went through two world wars, with a pandemic thrown in the middle for good measure, and still came out of it and back to normality soon enough.

It didn't go back to normality though. The world was very much changed by these things.

CathyandHeathcliff The difference is that if we don't do something about it then it may not stop. It's not about how many have died but how many could die this year, next year and onwards.

@LastTrainEast I understand that, but won’t it still be around when lockdown ends? It’s not going to completely disappear is it? That’s why I’m confused in part.

You could volunteer at the London Nightingale when it's full. 4,000 patients struggling to breathe will no doubt bring the numbers into focus.

where have you been living?

Flattering the curve ring any bells?

I think your first line is quite true - and I wonder how many people have ever thought about risk properly before:
" was just thinking if every death from every illness was reported daily in the way the current deaths from Covid are, people would never leave the house again, surely?"

500,000 people die every year. It'll happen to us all eventually....

Deaths on the roads are the most obvious that we choose to ignore (1,792 in 2016). Poor lifestyle too, heart disease gets 10s of thousands a year. I'm a hypocrite for that one - I love chocolate and cake.
But you are right - we don't get those numbers in our face on the news all the time to make us stop and think. I'm reasonably aware I think, but perhaps I accept more risk than others - I rode motorbikes for years!

Coronavirus is new, and partly because of that it is relatively more deadly than most other viruses. It is a bit unknown - it could mutate and get worse.

But right now it isn't the apocalyptic 'wipe humanity from Earth' level of disease that some are getting anxious about so some perspective is required.

I saw some stats earlier today on the BBC that had a graph of the number of weekly deaths this year compared to the last few years. So that gives a scale to the issue - last week it was 50% more deaths than usual. That includes the social distancing effects (lowers transmission rates, also lowers road deaths but other unknown effects).

www.bbc.co.uk/news/health-51979654

A lot of the national death league tables give a false impression of the impact in a country. Mortality per thousand (or million) population would be better for comparison. But even then, the UK has a relatively high death rate.

Mainstream media seems to be getting better this week in looking at these stats. The ONS releasing data seem to help that, but the historic data was there before, just unused.

The number of UK deaths is now more than twice the population of where I live now. Does that help with your sense of perspective?

As I said in my original post, I wasn’t trying to offend anybody, I just genuinely find the entire thing so confusing, that everything has been locked down and economies ruined for the foreseeable future. It is of course tragic and awful that anyone needs to die of it. I’m just constantly thinking like this at the moment.

I never watch it. Can you imagine this in WW2. I know every death is tragic but factor in the underlying symptoms and unknown infected and it is minuscule.

Yes, there is a regular attrition due to death every week and month in the U.K. But Covid is on top of these other causes. And it’s significant. I think you are probably getting a bit too desensitised because the news reports are relentless and 24/7. But don’t feel bad, It’s human, and how we cope with disasters otherwise as you say, we’d be too afraid to step outside. Too crippled by anxiety to keep going and rebuild afterwards.

Maybe by thinking of it as the equivalent of over 500 plane crashes in one month, with no survivors would help you to grasp the enormity? And As a way to understand the level of grief this is causing?.

the official figures do not reflect the utter devastation being caused worldwide. Just look at Ecuador.