60,000 Americans die from the flu every year. About 40,000 die in car accidents, 20,000 die in homocides and 60,000 die from suicide. Meanwhile, 600,000 die from cancer and 650,000 die from heart disease every year.
I think if those numbers were mentioned alongside any projected COVID-19 death rates, it would cause us all to settle down a bit.
In the last 9 years the flu has killed 60k Americans once. Usually more like 30-40k. Flu season is long. Flu season is usually an uptick in viral disease care that is pretty well managed and expected and dealt with
40k in car accidents, many die on scene and throughout the year. Lot of deaths is ER before ICU too. Hospital burden is different than viral disease
Cancer and heart disease, same thing. These deaths are spread throughout the year and hospital care is set up being adapted to these numbers. Lot of deaths happen outpatient at home. Hospital burden is different than for acute viral disease
Comparing even influenza to cancer and car accidents is not helpful except when assessing Hospital care and world supply is built around this stuff. Add in a new, fast spreading viral disease that kills 200k in the US and it’s gonna be a big deal for hospitals and the economy and for people you know
