Up the Guts
Steve Williams (59)
The death rates in Italy are severely upwardly biased because they’re only testing those showing definite symptoms (in part because of the lack of testing). They’re also now reporting that there are those who go through the virus asymptomatic which also pushes up the death rates.That's the theory the likes of the UK are operating on. And it may be true. The issue is we have to be very careful in managing the spread of the virus as not to overload our resources in a very short period of time. Italy is really struggling thanks largely to that failure. They have a solid healthcare system in pretty every way except the ability to manage a huge influx of need for beds particularly those in ICU's that the outbreaks have seen. Which is translating in a 7% mortality rate. Compared to the Koreans who have done exactly what we should be. Who despite having recorded their first case at almost the same time as the Italians have kept it far more in check and seen a much lower mortality rate of 0.7%.
Personally, I think the serious money that is pouring into vaccines/medications will see some positive results come out sooner than expected (that’s not an argument for complacency).