This was a question that was asked in another post. I have included links to information sources which are either government links or well known sites. I have included any comments in parenthesis.This post in no way suggests that I do not think Social Distancing and other protective measures are not an important part of helping keep this virus’ numbers as low as possible. As mentioned in at least one other post, I am concerned that the numbers don’t add up when shutting down our entire country possibly leading to the worst recession of our lifetime if not worse.
As of 4/18/2020 10:27 am the Covid-19 stats in the United States are:
717,825 cases
34,022 deaths
(approximately 1/3 of cases and deaths have occurred in New York)
Influenza deaths. (In Comparison)
Disease Burden of Influenza | CDC
Average number of deaths per year calculated over the last 3 years is 45,400 per year. 2,150,000 are estimated to get the flu every week during flu season.
(Not in at least the last 50 years has there been a suggestion that the entire country should be shut down.)
Alcohol related deaths
Alcohol Facts and Statistics | National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)
An estimated 88,000 people (approximately 62,000 men and 26,000 women) die from alcohol-related causes annually, making alcohol the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States.
And yet the governor of Colorado listed liquor stores as an essential service after briefly trying to close them.
Denver liquor and marijuana stores classified as 'essential' businesses, will be open during coronavirus outbreak | TheHill
Tobacco use related deaths
https://www.cdc.gov/healthreport/pub...compendium.pdf
480,000 deaths cause every year.
(Cigarettes have not been banned.)
Second-hand smoke causes more than 41,000 deaths a year.
Health Effects of Secondhand Smoke | American Lung Association
(Parents are still allowed to smoke with children in the house.)
Education
As much as 50% of students are not participating in online learning during Stay a Home.
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/u...ce-absent.html
Children and Malnutrition
Widespread school closures mean 30 million kids might go without meals.
https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/14/wide...out-meals.html
22 million children in the United States rely on the free or reduced-price lunch they receive at school, and every one of them is eligible for free breakfast as well.
https://www.nokidhungry.org/who-we-are/hunger-facts
https://thecounter.org/summer-hunger-new-york-city/
Domestic Violence
Since Stay at home orders domestic violence has become an “opportunistic infection”
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/06/w...-violence.html
https://thehill.com/homenews/news/49...at-home-orders
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news...kdown-n1176151
Suicide Rates – large increases expected
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/b...e-crisis-worse