In 1918, there were no ICUs or ventilators. They didn’t even know what a virus was yet, only the effect of “flu.”
Today, we can save at least 97% of the infected if we keep the wave low, “flattening the curve.”
But as Italy shows, and now Spain and France, once the hospitals are overrun, and ICUs and ventilators are all in use, many many more will die.
In Italy, with gasping patients waiting in hallways, the death rate is over 6%, some say over 8%. And not only the elderly are dying. The weaker elderly just come in first, and overwhelmed the system. Then the younger are infected, and there are no ICU spaces left for them. (A patient may need THREE WEEKS in ICU, while more cases are being brought in every hour.)
And even when the young “recover,” their lungs may be wrecked by the scarring of pneumonia. This means young, formerly healthy firefighters, paramedics, nurses and cops (first-responders are hit very hard) will be disabled and unable to work at their old jobs ever again. They will be semi-invalids for life.
The “just the flu” crowd seriously needs to read the two articles I linked above.
So far they've not been cancelling 'elective' surgeries, but my spidey sense keeps whispering that it might be a good idea to postpone it awhile . . .
It just goes to show you, it's always something.
If it's not one thing, it's another
R.Roseannadanna
;-)