Does COVID-19 truly warrant a nationwide shutdown?
[An on-going response, with over 170 footnotes thus far for documentation and with new finding being added continuously. Note that research findings are not always all in the same place, thus please read thru the article or use ctrl+f to find keywords. Thanks.]
While COVID-19 is real and a serious threat overall to those in poor health, including (especially) the obese (and 70% of Americans are overweight or obese[1] and a CDC study released 3.8–21) found about 78% of people that were hospitalized, needed a ventilator or died from Covid-19 were overweight or obese[2]while some 42% of U.S. adults reported packing on undesired weight since the start of the pandemic[3]) and hypertensive[4] (high cholesterol also can be an important factor[5]) and those with compromised immune systems, yet that does not justify the unprecedented (relative to its overall health threat) type of all-ages, long-term “stay-sheltered” restrictions with their drastic long-term economic consequences and unhealthy effects that this COVID-19 response has[6][7][8] and can result in, and which is being made increasingly clear.
One aspect that is particularly ill-advised is that of promoting “shelter-in-place” for all ages. Research in June by two medical scientists at Stanford University and UCLA found that, on average, a person in a typical medium to large U.S. county who has a single random contact with another person has a 1 in 3,836 chance of being infected without social distancing, hand-washing or mask-wearing.[9][10]Research also indicates that “lockdowns” may not be much more effective than voluntarily measures.[11] A Stanford University health expert also stated that Americans have a 1-in-1,000 chance of dying of COVID-19 in the next six months.[12]
In addition, it is reported that according to immunological studies, the overall lethality of Covid-19 as the infection fatality rate (IFR - not the less significant[13] case fatality rate - CFR) is about 0.1% to 0.3% and thus in the range of a severe influenza season. [14] Based on 82 seroprevalence studies from around the world, one estimate is that of an IFR of about 0.2 percent.[15] And the CDC IFR values for age-specific estimates are now (reported 8 October 2020) very low at 0.003% for 0–19 years, 0.02% for 20–49 years, 0.5% for 50–69 years, and 5.4% for 70+ years.[16]
A September 1 CDC report found that the best estimate survival rate is between 99.5 percent and 99.997 percent for people 69 years old or younger, while for those 70 or older it is an estimated 94.6 percent.[17] Also, “daily coronavirus fatality rates in the US remain a fraction of what they were in the deadly spring peak, even as cases climb to levels…well above infection rates from March to May.”[18]
As for the case fatality rate, according to the John Hopkins Covid-19 tracker, as of December 7, 2020 the USA had a lower rate than 76 other countries and territories, including Vietnam Sweden,France, Canada, Ireland, Australia, Ireland, Italy, United Kingdom, Tanzania, etc. As of 2/23/2021, the USA has a lower case fatality rate than almost 90 other countries and territories.[19]
Update: As of 8:23:09 AM Fri, 01/01/21 we had the figure of 355,000 Covid-assigned deaths out of 21,000,000 (slightly anticipated and in rounded figures) positive Covid-19 cases, which figures (Y is what % of X) to be a CFR of 1.69% (CFR=Case Fatality Rate - see here for more on this - which rate is based on confirmed cases, and which are the minority of cases and have been those mostly likely to be tested and to die, since for most of the pandemic those who had symptoms were the most likely to be tested, while a large percentage of persons who test positive never developed any symptoms) Note: there are over 80 countries with a higher CFR than the USA.
As for the IFR (Infection Fatality Rate, meaning Covid-assigned deaths as a % of the estimated total infections, vs. confirmed infections) in the US, an official estimate of the estimated total infections in the US is very hard to find, but the CDC (Dec. 11) provided a figure of 91 Million Estimated Total Infections and at which time there were about 300,000 Covid-assigned deaths (figures are rounded), and which translates into a IFR of 0.33.
Then we have the CMR Crude Morality Rate(Covid-assigned deaths as a % of the total pop.), in which 355,000 as a % of 332,000,000 is 0.11%. And with 1,828,684 Covid-assigned deaths worldwide (12–28–20) out of a total world population of 7,800,000,000 people (as of March 2020), then the overall worldwide Covid-19 crude morality rate (CMR) is 0.02.
CDC data indicates that being infected with getting Covid-19 is riskier for seniors age 70 and older than climbing Mt. Everest; in contrast, the infection fatality risk for those under age 20 is equivalent to driving a car for 7,500 miles. “Those under age 50 who get infected with the coronavirus lose less than one day of discounted quality-adjusted life expectancy; seniors age 70 or older lose nearly 90 days.”[20]
And while an estimated 1,200 children died in the 2012-2013 flu season[21] only 94 children (under 18) out of over 210,000 deaths have died due to COVID-19 (reported 10–02) [22] and less than 10 percent of domestic COVID-19 cases are among children under 18 (reported 9–11,[23] while the vast majority of children with severe COVID tend to have other risk factors.[24]
In addition, on March 15, 2021 the University of Colorado Boulder reported that a recent CU Boulder analysis of more than 72,000 test samples[25] collected from students and some faculty and staff on the CU Boulder campus between Aug. 17 and Nov. 25 revealed that it was a few “super carriers” with very high viral loads that were likely responsible for the bulk of COVID-19 transmissions, while about half of infected people were not contagious at all at the time of diagnosis. Among those tested (asymptomatic students in residence halls are required to test weekly), 2% of these people carried 90% of the COVID-19 virus. A related study[26] lended further credence to the idea that the amount of virus particles a person carries (viral load) is what drives contagion.[27]
As for how much wearing masks prevents infection, while this is generally warranted in close contact scenarios (like bars and social events) as they can at least reduce the amount of viral transmission[28] yet as regards the degree of effectiveness, a Centers for Disease Control report released in September found that of “case-patients,” who tested positive for COVID-19, “In the 14 days before illness onset, 71% of case-patients and 74% of control participants reported always using cloth face coverings or other mask types when in public.” Also, In this investigation of participants with and without COVID-19, “adults with confirmed COVID-19 (case-patients) were approximately twice as likely as were control-participants to have reported dining at a restaurant in the 14 days before becoming ill.“[29] In addition, the dramatic increase in disposal of such single-use plastics with their polypropylene that typical surgical masks contain poses a potential threat to the environment.[30]
Also, masks are shown to also reduce blood oxygen levels (pa02) significantly, relative to the (limited) effectiveness of the mask and length of time worn (the more effective the mask in blocking particles, the more it reduced blood oxygen levels.[31] N95 masks are also found to have a detrimental effect on nasal resistance after removal (though flat masks are better than a cup type due to the dead space of the latter). And dizziness, perspiration, and short-term memory loss have been reported from extended N95 use.
Also, the oft-repeated assertion that “face masks don't hinder breathing during exercise”[32] is both fallacious and misleading, for even cheesecloth will hinder breathing, and although the use of face masks may not negatively effect average inhaled O2 during exercise, yet research shows an increased rate and depth of breathing and cardiac output to compensate for the additional CO2 and with slight increases in systolic and diastolic blood pressures.[33] [34]
Meanwhile, (less restrictive) homemade cotton masks actually produced particles of their own.[35] Negative mask-wearing effects also extend to dental issues such as decaying teeth, receding gum lines and seriously sour breath.[36]
In addition, the “stay-sheltered” mandates and shutting down parks and the beach fronts and fear of outside contact was hardly rational since that fosters obesity and other comorbidities.[37] Also, one study of 190,000 blood samples from patients of all ethnicities and ages infected with COVID in all 50 states showed that people deficient in vitamin D were 54% more likely to get COVID-19,[38][39] meaning vitamin D can reduce the risk of catching coronavirus by 54 percent. [40] Among newer studies it was found that over 80% of 200 patients hospitalized with COVID-19 had vitamin D deficiency. Patients with lower vitamin D levels also had higher blood levels of inflammatory markers. Researchers across the globe are also finding a correlation between vitamin D status and patterns of COVID-19 recovery.[41][42][43]
An early one study of 318 outbreaks involving 1,245 cases in China found just one transmission that occurred outdoors, infecting just two people. Most of those who were infected and died were occurred at home.[45] Meanwhile a systematic review of peer-reviewed papers stated that five studies found a low proportion of reported global SARS-CoV-2 infections occurred outdoors and that the odds of indoor transmission was very high (almost 19 times higher) as compared to outdoors.[46]
Moreover, some preliminary research (Jun 05, 2020) showed superspreading events [47] account for most transmission, and that just 20% of coronavirus cases resulted in 80% of transmissions. An estimated 70% of infected patients studied didn't pass the virus at all.[48] A new (Oct 29, 2020) Massachusetts report on clusters found that household transmission was at the center of the vast majority (almost 94 percent[49] ) of recent COVID-19 cases.[50]And such infection can occur among groups even with very strict restrictions and preventative measures.[51] [52]But another study found that in household transmissions individuals with symptoms were more than 25 times more likely to infect household members than those without symptoms at the time (0.7 percent).[53][54]
In another report researchers analyzed 54 studies with more 77,000 participants reporting household secondary transmission of coronavirus, which overall found that the risk of catching COVID-19 from family member one lives with was 16.6%.[55] However, researchers also found that just 9% of original cases were responsible for 80% of infections detected in close contacts, and that stay-at-home orders brought only marginal benefit in preventing infections, and actually can increase infections and that encounters that were most likely to spread the coronavirus were those between members of the same household.[56]
Furthermore, up to eighty percent of people who become infected with the [57] virus have either no symptoms or experience it as a mild respiratory infection,[58][59] although an estimated 40-45% of individuals who become infected remain asymptomatic.[60]
And it is postulated that some in the “no symptoms“ class may actually be immune. [61][62]Besides antibodies (which one test looks for), several studies have shown that people infected with Covid-19 tend to have T cells that can target the virus, even though lacking symptoms. And that some people can test negative for antibodies against Covid-19 and positive for T cells that can identify the virus. It is thus speculated that some level of immunity against the disease might be twice as common as was previously thought, and 40-60% of unexposed individuals had these T cells.[63]
In addition, the quarantine of children may negatively affect their development of immune systems. Research by two professors found that keeping children masked, however necessary, could undermine their bodies’ ability to learn how to fight pathogens.
During the Covid-19 pandemic, the world is unwittingly conducting what amounts to the largest immunological experiment in history on our own children...
Memory T cells begin to form during the first years of life and accumulate during childhood. However, for memory T cells to become functionally mature, multiple exposures may be necessary, particularly for cells residing in tissues such as the lung and intestines, where we encounter numerous pathogens. These exposures typically and naturally occur during the everyday experiences of childhood — such as interactions with friends, teachers, trips to the playground, sports — all of which have been curtailed or shut down entirely during efforts to mitigate viral spread. As a result, we are altering the frequency, breadth and degree of exposures that are crucial for immune memory development.[64]
Moreover as regards quarantines and children, a preprint study conducted in Germany found them harmful:
By 26.10.2020 the registry had been used by 20,353 people. In this publication we report the results from the parents, who entered data on a total of 25,930 children. The average wearing time of the mask was 270 minutes per day. Impairments caused by wearing the mask were reported by 68% of the parents. These included irritability (60%), headache (53%), difficulty concentrating (50%), less happiness (49%), reluctance to go to school/kindergarten (44%), malaise (42%) impaired learning (38%) and drowsiness or fatigue (37%)…. A precise benefit-risk analysis is urgently required. The occurrence of reported side effects in children due to wearing the masks must be taken seriously...[65]
As regards the number of positive coronavirus cases, testing data compiled by officials in Massachusetts, New York and Nevada showed that to 90 percent of people testing positive carried barely any virus using the PCR test, which is the most widely used diagnostic test for the coronavirus. And which which means they are not likely to be infectious and thus need not be quarantined (the greater the viral load, the more likely an infected person is to be contagious).[66] Also, according to experiments in monkey cells. people with COVID-19 are unlikely to spread the new coronavirus if more than eight days have passed since their symptoms began. Results from another study using moneys who were r einfected after recovering from a prior from infection indicated their immune systems
had fought off the virus. [67]
As for quarantines and the aged, early on close to half of all COVID-19 deaths had occurred in long-term care facilities, with up to 70% of deaths occurring in nursing homes[68] and elder care facilities accounting for over 40% of US deaths.[69][70] (38% according to the NYT, updated October 30, 2020[71] ). Which means that the 99.4 percent of the country that does not reside in those facilities are far less likely to die of COVID-19,[72] even to the fatality rate of COVID-19 probably being “0.13 percent for people outside nursing homes and 0.26 percent — identical to the CDC best estimate — when people in nursing homes were included.”[73]
Even with a worse-case example - far removed from the average[74] - Word Meters found that New York City (May 1) had an Infection Fatality Rate (IFR) of 1.4% and a 0.28% crude mortality rate (CMR) to date, or 279 deaths per 100,000 population.[75] In New York city there is normally a a death every 9.1 minutes.[76] and has a very high COVID-19 death rate. New York state constituted about 29% of all reported COVID-19 deaths as of May 26, with over 1,702 deaths per million,[77] and its high rate still heavily affects the overall mortality rate of the US.[78]
(From New York State)
In addition, in early 2021 when the administration of NY Gov. Andrew Cuomo finally announced the total number of overall deaths of those from NY nursing home residents who had died in hospitals, it raised the totals by 50%, from around 8,000 to more than 12,000. And it was later charged that more than 650 deaths of New York nursing home residents presumed to have died of COVID-19 still had not been formally acknowledged.[79] Later, New York officials confirmed they omitted nursing home resident death data from a report on COVID-19 in 2020 of deaths among residents who were transferred to hospitals.[80]
Also, 30[81] - 40[82] to about 80 percent of those infected with COVID-19 are estimated to be silent carriers, [83][84] meaning they show little or no symptoms, and the New York City labor and delivery unit found 88 percent of infected patients had no symptoms, [85] while over 600 sailors on the coronavirus-stricken aircraft carrier Theodore Roosevelt tested positive, yet 60% of them had no symptoms such as fever, fatigue, or cough,[86]and in four U.S. state prisons nearly 3,300 inmates test positive for coronavirus yet 96% were without symptoms[87] and or recover without medical care[88])
Moreover, numerous new studies suggest that Covid-19 infection in recovered persons results in a lasting protective immune response, [89][90][91][92] even in people who developed only mild symptoms of Covid-19. [93](and see studies on immunity referenced previously). Recent (reported 2–24–21) research from the National Cancer Institute. also finds that Coronavirus infection leads to immunity that’s comparable to a COVID-19 vaccine, with the risk of developing a subsequent infection more than three months later being about 90% lower than it was for people who had not been previously infected and had no immunity.
And more recently, based on CDC studies of blood samples collected nationwide, U.S. officials believe as many as 20 million Americans have contracted the coronavirus, suggesting millions had the virus and never knew it.[94] Also, some Canadian data indicates that those with type A or AB blood are at a higher risk of greater disease severity than those with type O or B blood. [95]
And while a nationwide shutdown is exhorted, yet researchers have found that,
“just 1% of the counties in the U.S., representing 17% of the population, are responsible for almost half of the country’s COVID-19 deaths. Overall, only about 10% of the counties in the U.S. contain 90% of all the COVID-19 deaths, even though these counties include 60% of the population.”[96]
Also, although positive diagnosis counts continue to increase (as they would with more testing), the accuracy of the tests are still largely unknown,[97] and it can take as long as three weeks for a blood antibody test to turn positive,[98] while some persons can continue to test positive for COVID-19 even 60 days after being infected,[99] and even up to 3 months after diagnosis and not be infectious.[100][101] And according to a study involving 3 states up to 90% of persons testing positive via PCR tests have such a low viral load that they are not likely to be contagious.
However, for some time the CDC had been combining test results that diagnose current coronavirus infections with test results that measure whether someone has ever had the virus[102] and which inflated data is used to justify quarantines.
In addition, the CDC criteria for classifying “presumed” COVID19 cases is very broad (even based upon a cough or shortness of breath and living in an area with a sustained community transmission.[103]). Also the CDC reports that "for 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 3.8 additional conditions or causes per death,”[104] evidently meaning such patients would have lived if they did not get Covid. However, this is a presumption.
Moreover, there can be some possible financial motivation influencing deaths being assigned to Covid-19. For under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act through a Medicare 20% add-on, USA Today affirmed that,
Hospitals and doctors do get paid more for Medicare patients diagnosed with COVID-19 or if it's considered presumed they have COVID-19 absent a laboratory-confirmed test, and three times more if the patients are placed on a ventilator to cover the cost of care and loss of business resulting from a shift in focus to treat COVID-19 cases.[105]
All of which not only means that the case count is misleading, but that the infected fatality rate (IFR) is much lower than the misleading case fatality rate (CFR) that is usually quoted.
Then in early June even the WHO stated that the asymptomatic spread of coronavirus is “very rare.”[106] though it later expressed that this is debatable.[107]A meta-analysis of 54 household COVID-19 transmission studies found an asymptomatic attack rate of only 0.7% within households.[108] [109] And as mentioned somewhat before, the vast majority of those who die because of Covid-19 are 65 years-old or more,[110] with 80% of all Covid-19 deaths being among those 65 and older since February, and 92% of all Covid-19 deaths among those 55 and older. Covid-19 also was attributable to almost 10 percent of all deaths among those 65 and older, but less than one percent of all deaths among young people. [111]
On on September 15, 2020 the CDC reported 121 (confirmed or probable) Covid-19–associated deaths were among persons aged 21 years and younger by July 31 2020 (and which age group constitutes years constitute 26% of the U.S. population) and 91 (75%) of which had an underlying medical condition, and with 63% of these 121 deaths being male, and with 85 Covid-19 deaths being among those aged 10–20 years, and with 12 deaths being infants.[113] With 188 influenza-associated deaths among children (0-4 years) influenza-associated influenza for the 2019-20 season as of September 19, 2020, and 434 deaths among children aged under 18 years, then there have been more deaths attributed to the flu among children than due to Covid-19.[114]
Update: Actually the CDC reported[115] (updated February 17, 2021) that out of 460,234 Covid-19 (assigned) deaths 140.00 were among those aged 0-14 and 788.00 among those aged 0-24, and 32,672.00 among those aged 0-54. As a percent, the CDC reported[116] (updated: Feb 23 2021) that out of almost 500,000 Covid-19 (assigned) deaths only 0.1% occurred among the 1-17 year-old group; 0.5% among the 18-29 group; 1.2% among the 30-39% group; 2.8% among the 40-49 group; 14.5% among the 50-64 group; 21.1% among the 65-74 group; 27.6% among the 75-84% group; and 32.3% among the 85+ group. Also the CDC reports[117] that "for 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 3.8 additional conditions or causes per death.”
Meanwhile, at least in the Spring, almost 25% of all documented Covid-assigned fatalities in the US were from New York (28,480)[118] and according to one report 54% of all U.S. deaths were in the 100 counties in or within 100 miles of NYC.
And the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that almost 90 percent of U.S. coronavirus patients who have been hospitalized had underlying health problems, or comorbidities.[119][120]As of 8–22, for 6% of the deaths, COVID-19 was the only cause mentioned. For deaths with conditions or causes in addition to COVID-19, on average, there were 2.6 additional conditions or causes per death. [121]
The NIH reports that people under 65 years old without underlying predisposing conditions accounted for only 0.7–3.6% of all COVID-19 deaths in France, Italy, Netherlands, Sweden, Georgia, and New York City and 17.7% in Mexico.[122] Moreover, adults 65 and older account for 16% of the US population but 80% of COVID-19 deaths in the US, somewhat higher than their share of deaths from all causes (75%) over the same period.[123]
And which relates to the issue of inaccurate fatality numbers, partly due to the problem of determining the actual cause of death and the CDC guidelines which allow for reporting COVID-19 as the “probable” or “presumed” cause on the death certificate if the certifier even suspects COVID-19 was likely (e.g., the circumstances were compelling within a reasonable degree of certainty), the cause.[124]
Which resulted in NYC suddenly adding 3,700 additional people to its death count[125](also, Federal legislation pays hospitals higher Medicare rates for COVID-19 patients and treatment[126]. and as with deaths attributed to HIV, this has provided a financial incentive to attribute the cause of death to COVID-19[127] ), leading to charges of over-counting[128][129] while Pennsylvania removed some deaths from its count after coroner reports.[130]
Later, Colorado’s Health Department revised their official coronavirus death count from 1,150 as of May 15 downward to 878 (a reduction of 23.7 percent) and created two separate distinguishing categories, one of people who died directly because of the virus and another of people who had COVID-19 at their time of death but died of other causes that may not be attributable to the virus.[131][132] However, some others believe the problem is more that of under-counting. [133]
In addition, besides typically ignoring the low infection fatality rate, the constant alarming of increased deaths is misleading, since the CDC is conflating viral and antibody tests, combining test results that diagnose current coronavirus infections with test results that measure whether someone has ever had the virus,[134] while apparently deaths from as far back as April can be counted as new deaths.[135]
Also, another study finds that the risk of coronavirus spreading in schools is 'extremely low'.[136]
And while states continue to parrot the “stay sheltered” mantra, research shows that sunlight destroys the virus quickly[137][138] , and even a Department of Homeland Security official affirmed that increasing temperatures, humidity and sunlight are detrimental to coronavirus saliva droplets on surfaces and in the air.[139] A July 2020 study found that the virus in simulated saliva was inactivated when exposed to simulated sunlight for between 10-20 minutes. Another study found 90 percent of the coronavirus's particles being inactivated after just half an hour of exposure to midday sunlight in summer.[140]
Yet miles upon miles of parks and public waterfronts were shutdown, and for too long NY put infected persons in nursing homes[141] (and as of April 26, about 40 percent of COVID-19 deaths were in the state of New York alone. New Jersey was in second place, with nearly 5,900[142]yet the death rate is uncritically employed to justify nationwide lockdowns).
Meanwhile in states such as Illinois law-breaking prisoners were released from their “quarantine” - including some “high risk” sexual offenders[143] and some convicted of murder - [144] and almost a third of county jail inmates have been released from facilities during the coronavirus pandemic.[145]
The question is, where in US history has there been the extremely restrictive, all-ages, long-term response comparable to what has been implemented in response to COVID-19? It simply has no precedent in American history relative to the lethality as a percentage of the population, not the more deadly-in scope (550,000 to 675,000 Americans, or 0.66% of the population) 1918 flu, and which mainly took the lives of the young? [146]And in which baseball was still played.[147]
And during which medics found that severely ill flu patients nursed outdoors recovered better than those treated indoors. A combination of fresh air and sunlight seems to have prevented deaths among patients; and infections among medical staff. [148]
Finally, the long-term cost for the questionable[149]“cure” - as meaning preventing deaths via the stay-sheltered COVID captivity - will be more costly in lives and money [150] [151] including psychosocial consequences[152][153] than a more moderate response that would allow for a faster and more substantial rise in cases but a better decrease and overall a more healthy populace in the long run. [154][155][156]
A December 2020 study by the National Bureau of Economic Research finds that there have been roughly 400,000 covid-linked deaths so far due to covid-related lockdowns, and with long-term economic implications indicating an increase in the death rate in the overall population following the COVID-19 pandemic of between 0.89 and 1.37 million excess deaths. For African-Americans this would be an estimated 180 thousand and 270 thousand excess deaths over the next 15 and 20years, respectively. For Whites this would mean an estimated 0.82 and 1.21 million excess deaths over the next 15 and 20 years, respectively.[157]
Of course, when over 70% of Americans are overweight or obese (over 40% the latter [158]) and this condition is a primary factor relative to serious and fatal COVID-19 infections,[159]then we might expect more deaths from this virus than that of the Asian flu. Research shows that people with obesity were more than twice as likely to end up in the hospital and nearly 50 percent more likely to die of COVID-19.[160] Another study finds that more than 77 percent of 17,000 hospitalized COVID-19 patients in the United States had excess weight or obesity.[161] A more recent study found that 88 percent of deaths due to COVID-19 in the first year of the pandemic were in countries where more than half of the population is classified as overweight. In countries where more than 50% of the population was overweight, the COVID-19 death rate was more than 100 per 100,000. “Conversely, in countries where less than half of the adult population is classified as overweight, the risk of death from COVID-19 was about one-tenth of the levels in countries with higher shares of overweight adults.”[162] [163]
Economically, estimates project total losses in state and local revenue of up to 45 percent, effecting 90,000 nonfederal-government entities that provide and pay for most of the government services that Americans receive.[164] And while states look to the Federal government to bail them out, the additional costs and declining revenues stemming from Covid-19 are expected to produce a 2020 budget deficit in excess of $4.2 trillion.[165]
And most of government income comes from taxes, via businesses and those who are employed ( income taxes, payroll taxes, and corporate taxes),[166],yet businesses are failing across America, and in New York alone the governor stated that small businesses constitute “90 percent of New York's businesses” and “more than 100,000 have shut permanently since the pandemic hit.”[167]
Moreover since March 15, there were 65 million unemployment claims filed (reported Oct 16, 2020,[168] and as of Nov 5, 2020 around 751,000 people had filed for first-time unemployment with 22 million jobs having been lost as a result of the pandemic, with just over 10 million jobs yet to be recovered. [169]
In addition, on Aug. 2 it was reported[170] that thirty-six of of the top 50 cities in America had a collective 24% jump in homicides this year compared to 2019, with a total of 3,612 murders in 2020 being reported so far. More recently, a 4/3/2021 report states that sixty-three major American cities saw a 33% increase in homicides in 2020.[171]
Also, according to one meta-analysis of 42 studies involving 20 million people, the risk of death increases 63 percent when one loses their job, and that for every one percentage point increase in the unemployment rate, there are 37,000 deaths, mainly from heart attacks, but another 1,000 from suicides and another 650 from homicides.[172]
The Washington Post (in seeking to promote gun control) reports that studies have established strong correlations between suicide and pressure such as unemployment, evictions and displacement and which have all risen sharply during the pandemic. And that Federal surveys show 40 percent of Americans - and in particular almost 75 percent of young adults - are now grappling with at least one mental health or drug-related problem. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reported that over 25% of young adults said they had thought about killing themselves in the past 30 days, compared with 10.5 percent in 2018.
Officials in Arizona’s Pima County reported spikes in suicides while the number of suicides by the summer of 2020 in Oregon’s Columbia County had already surpassed last year’s total. The Chicago suburb DuPage County reported a 23 percent rise in suicides compared with last year. And in Chicago itself suicides among African Americans have far surpassed the total for 2019.[173]
These are in addition to reports such as “Calls to suicide and help hotline in Los Angeles increase 8,000% due to coronavirus,”[174] and “Doctors at John Muir Medical Center in Walnut Creek say they have seen more deaths by suicide during this quarantine period than deaths from the COVID-19 virus,”[175] and increased rate can extend to children.[176]
A study published March 2 reports that self-harm by children and suicides have increased exponentially during COVID-19 lockdowns that have closed schools, finding that ,
In March and April 2020, mental health claim lines1 for individuals aged 13 - 18, as a percentage of all medical claim lines, approximately doubled over the same months in the previous year. Claim lines for intentional self - harm as a percentage of all medical claim lines in the 13 - 18 age group increased 99.83 percent in March 2020 compared to March 2019 . The increase was even larger when comparing April 2020 to April 2019, nearly doubling (99.83 percent). For the age group 13 - 18, claim lines for overdoses increased 94.91 percent as a percentage of all medical claim lines in March 2020 and 119.31 percent in April 2020 over the same months the year before.[177]
Citing this study ,Dr. Martin Makary, professor of surgery at Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine, stated that self-harm and overdoses increased 91-100% and children are 10X more likely to die of suicide than coronavirus.[178]
In addition to which are greatly increased drug overdoses and deaths during COVID.[179][180] [181]As well as well as significant rise in divorces. [182]
All of which can mean that the lockdown measures can end up being responsible for more deaths across the globe than the Coronavirus itself, which is what a German official warns of.[183] Over 600 doctors signed onto a letter sent to President Trump favoring an end the "national shutdown," referring to it as being a "mass casualty incident" with "exponentially growing health consequences." [184]
Yet while we seek to save lives, 7,000 Americans die every day in the US from a wide range of causes [185] - besides over 2,000 a day being slain in the “quarantine” of their mother’s womb[186] - my prayer is that all sinners will come to repentance and faith in the risen Lord Jesus and be baptized and follow Him.
Hope this helps. PeaceByJesus
More Covid-19 stats that add some balance to the debate are here: Covid-19 Science and Reality
Footnotes
