Recently, the Swedish King (74) made an interesting comment: “I think we have failed. We have a large number who have died and that is terrible”. BBC: “Over 90% of [Swedish] Covid-related deaths have been among those aged 70 and over, and nearly half of all Covid deaths have been in care homes“. Note: bold markings by LO.
The Guardian: “Further, while long-term care home residents represent less than 1% of the US population, they represent more than 40% of Covid-19 deaths.” Note: bold markings by LO.
Sweden and USA are not the exception. The statistic of about 40-50% of corona fatalities in care and/or retirement homes seems to be the default number.
On 22 March 2020, author Niall Ferguson already warned for senicide, i.e. “the abandonment to death, suicide, or killing of the elderly” (Wiki). See his March 22 article in The Times and a copy of it in my March 23 blog. His warning was in vain. On 11 October 2020, I used the Supertramp song Crime of the Century for my blog’s title.
Recently, German Chancellor also made an interesting comment: “I am really sorry from the bottom of my heart… but if the price we pay is 590 [corona related] deaths a day [LO: for Glühwein- to-go] then then that, in my view, is not acceptable.” (The Local, AP)
I think, feel and believe that politicians are now overreacting following the known and disastrous consequences of their underreacting in March 2020:
In my country, the Netherlands, the Dutch government prioritized distributing face masks to hospitals rather than nursing homes, with the aforementioned disastrous result. For many months, the Dutch government claimed that face masks were unnecessary in nursing homes, while being aware of the rising death toll in nursing homes. (my blog, Dutch Financial Times)
All these governments must still learn that “even a military-enforced quarantine can’t stop the virus” (ie, American Institute for Economic Research, New England Journal of Medicine).
The ultimate reason is fairly simple: we fail to understand the “mission, goals, strategy, tactics and operations of viruses” (my recent blog). Hence, we apply a micro rather than a macro perspective. The ultimate solution is also fairly simple: we must learn to live (ie, cohabit) with viruses.
Shame Shame (2020) by Foo Fighters
artists, lyrics, video, Wiki-1, Wiki-2
Another splinter under the skin
Another season of loneliness
I found a reason and buried it
Beneath a mountain of emptiness
Note: all markings (bold, italic, underlining) by LO unless stated otherwise.
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