Originally Posted by Aloha1 (Post 1809128)

So many posters here with their own agenda. And a lot of misinformation. Herd immunity is not real?? It's a long standing medical science fact that diseases tend to die out when herd immunity is reached. Hundreds of "medical professionals" want the country shut down again?? Well about 125 people with a connection to medicine did ask that. Dr. Fauci, in response said that would be a mistake.

The facts have no agenda, they are just the facts. The OP is a good researcher and has presented well thought out posts. Stop with the criticism already. If you don't agree, post research to back up your point, not opinion.

The OP has NEVER said the virus is fake, a ruse, nor said anything about not wearing masks. To the contrary, he has been very consistent in his views about this virus, that it is deadly and we should take common sense precautions like wearing masks and social distancing. What the OP HAS said and posted are data points regarding the true state of this virus.

I had the Asian Flu in 1957 and was hospitalized for 5 days because I couldn't shake my 104 degree fever. Sickest I've ever been in my life.

I take this disease seriously and wear a mask when in stores or crowds (which I avoid), carry sanitizer wherever I go, and wash my hands when I come back from a store. But I will not let this virus prevent me from living life.

Originally Posted by Byte1 (Post 1809133)

Oh my, the sky is falling!
Everyone has an opinion. One person on here is decent enough to give us REAL stats so that the rest of us do not need to speculate, and his motive is questioned.
In my opinion, he is merely providing information so that it will put many minds at ease as to exactly how much one needs to worry. In my opinion, you do what you feel you need to do to protect you and yours, and quit worrying what everyone else is doing. Just because one person has an opinion, does not mean that your opinion needs to demand that others conform to your standards. Best way to avoid the virus (in my opinion) is to stay home and accept no visitors. If you wander around in public, it is ONLY your fault if you become infected, not anyone else's that you feel is not protecting you enough.
I enjoy the OP's sharing of his information. I look forward to it. If you do not agree with it, then provide your own counter information.
Personally, I want three facts which will make it very easy to modify my current lifestyle.
I want to know how many COVID 19 hospitalizations in the Sumter Co. portion of the Villages.
I want to know how many related deaths that were CAUSED by COVID 19 in the Villages portion of the Villages.
I want to know how many of the hospitalizations have survived and have been released.

The number of positive tests for infection means nothing unless you test everyone in an area on the same day. EVERYONE. Testing a hundred one day and a thousand on another day and saying that there were more testing positive on the second day is not even scientific.

I believe that this virus has been around a lot longer than just since March. I believe it has been around at least since sometime last year and no one has realized it until this year. Since most folks that die from it have some other health issues, I believe that many have died from it and it was deemed death by the chronic condition. This is my opinion, and I will predict that when this is all over and more investigation is done, we will find out that the reason it is so widespread in such a short period of time, is that it was already here. Just my speculation, of course.

It is also my opinion that mass hysteria helps no one. I am not suggesting that anyone ignore the world situation, but running amok and crying that the sky is falling is not going to make you any healthier or prevent the outcome one bit. However, you may end up with stress related illness.

Originally Posted by graciegirl (Post 1809130)

March is when the earliest cases were recognized in U.S. Before that was confusion world wide as to what exactly was happening. It was in February when people sickened and began to die in droves in Italy.

I think that not only public health but valid expert doctors and researchers in hospitals in the U.S. should be part of a team of experts that guide us. People do not have to work for the government to be expert on vaccines and communicable diseases. At the time of the Ebola outbreak, The U.S. went without a surgeon general for the better part of two years. It was Vanderbilt's physicians that guided us in the Ebola outbreak. Some members of the staff died in a hospital in Texas before that happened. It is unrealistic to blame people now when no one could have known how bad this would be.

Originally Posted by The Mountaineer (Post 1809148)

Originally Posted by Bucco (Post 1809159)

Not trying to place blame.

I simply know the US intelligence was discussing a possible serious problem in January. I know that WHO was sending package on infection and control in early January. I know the US government found the threat to be serious enough to put a ban on China Travel. So, from my perspective our country was aware of a potentially serious problem at minimum in late January. Facts is, on January 21, WHO said that the international threat was high. We were told it was no threat to our country.

On, I think Feb 24 or so, the stock market sunk on fears of the pandemic. We were told all was ok.

Would earlier intervention and following scientific advice at that early stage meant anything. I sure don't know, but seeing a thread comparing 1957 to this situation requires we notice the difference in response.

I am in no position to place blame, if there is blame to be placed.

Originally Posted by Yjacket74 (Post 1809182)

I don't know where you got that CDC number, but at this time there are over 140,000 deaths and over 4,000,000 confirmed cases. That makes the mortality rate at least 3.5% - not .65%. It's easy math 140,000 / 4,000,000. Besides the flu doesn't invade your brain, your blood system and other organs as the NYC pathologists have seen in their autopsies. So the coronavirus is helluva lot more dangerous than the flu - notwithstanding that we don't know what long-term effects will occur in people who were seriously sick and survived.

Originally Posted by merrymini (Post 1808901)

It seems to be the case that the wet market blame was a ruse by china to deceive. They were not practicing good lab protocols which may be worse than letting it out on purpose. It goes to show how you can bring a country or countries to its knees with the help of the media and non critical thinking of the people who watch the media. Numbers are fascinating. People do not understand how easily manipulated they are. Do not believe all you hear or see.

Originally Posted by GoodLife (Post 1808711)

. But if you read articles about it, apparently the world did not go into a frenzy of panic. Life went on. Maybe we were tougher then.

Originally Posted by Micki (Post 1808964)

There are other people who think this way. Bill Gates, the guy who wants us all to take the vaccine when it comes out also wants to lower the population of the earth to half a billion people. There’s a little over 7.8 billion people right now, which means the man who wants to save our lives also wants to eliminate 7.3 billion of us. Isn’t that odd? Not to worry, I’m pretty certain that in a couple of years we’re going to start seeing a drastic population reduction. Hope you’re prepared for it, chances are you and I are not going to be part of the half a billion.