On a 'good' flu year in England we would see 5 - 7000 deaths from influenza, on a 'bad' year around 27,000 deaths, predominantly older/vulnerable people, similar to covid-19.
We will still get flu deaths this year, as well as the covid deaths.
Plus the deaths resulting 'from' covid-19's presence, for example people with cancer/other diseases that can't access treatment as effectively before, it's all death isn't it?
And if that's a family member, well dead is terminal whatever the diagnosis, then there's those of us that have been left with health problems from having covid, such as lung and heart damage.
And of course if the covid numbers get too out of control over winter and very much during flu/respiratory virus season, then the extra preventable deaths from covid, if there are not enough hospital beds, staff, ventilators oxygen etc, people will die when they could have been saved, can you imagine running out of oxygen mid winter? Or maybe there being no skilled technicians to run the ventilators/ecmo ect? THIS is why we have to keep the numbers within safe limits, the stories from around the world of family members fighting over oxygen cylinders are shocking and tragic. Were very lucky we can have so many covid deniers or sceptics that think the flu is worse, it's shows just how for granted people can afford to take their healthcare here.
The whataboutery from some people regarding deaths is crazy. As baytreetavern says, we've not seen covid-19 in winter yet. It won't be pretty, and as someone who's worked in the nhs in critical care for many years, my heart feels so much for the staff. I know how they feel about the people who don't wear masks, or socially distance, and those that think it's all overplayed.
Plenty of people could do with spending a week in intensive care to help out, I guarantee they would be humbled and shocked into realisation of reality within an hour.