CDC releases figures for U.S. covid-19 deaths vs. other causes of dying – May 1, 2020
May 3, 2020. On May 1st the Center for Disease Control (CDC) in the United States tabulated the deaths and their causes from Feb 1 2020 to April 25, 2020. The fact that CDC released these numbers is very important and I expect they will change slightly as more information is gathered and corrections are made.
This is what they reported.
For those who prefer visuals see Figure below.
From Feb 1 to Apr 25, 2020, more people died of pneumonia (~64 k) than covid-19 (~37 k). Covid-19 amounted to 5.2% of all deaths during this period, yet 99% of the news focused on covid-19. How did this happen?
Less than 1% died from flu (which is also contagious) and these numbers are lower this year than in previous years for this period of time so I expect that some “flu deaths” were attributed to covid-19 instead.
Being a politician at this time must be amazingly challenging. They need to make decisions that will affect the lives of millions with incomplete information about this virus, about vaccines, about how a lockdown will affect the economy now and in the future.
As fewer and fewer cases are reported, the worst part of this pandemic may be coming to an end. Some key questions remain … Will covid-19 return with a vengeance once lock down is lifted or in the fall or again next year, or will we have enough herd immunity to have far fewer deaths?
I honestly believe this was a dress rehearsal for the next “lock-down” we will experience. I don’t know what will initiate it or when it will come but I expect we are in for several more of these.
I’ve been reading about the Spanish Flu, and the Irish Potato Famine, and other difficult times people experienced in the past. Important we learn from these events to minimize the suffering they can generate.
In the meantime, make the most of each day and turn the lemons into lemonade!
This poem written in 1869 about the Potato Famine in Ireland has relevance for what we are experiencing today in many parts of the world. Enjoy …
‘And People Stayed Home’ – A Famine Poem. Kathleen O’Meara.