Wuhan, China
COVID-19 data
are not reliable.
Even if we could
trust the Chinese
government statistics,
infection rates are hard
to determine accurately.
About 80% of those tested
are asymptomatic, or have
what feels like a cold.
That's why the disease
spreads so easily.
About 15% have common
flu symptoms, and some
of them need to be
in a hospital.
About 5% have very
serious flu symptoms,
and should be in a hospital
-- about one of every five
of them will die.
Overestimating
the risk can lead to
wrong responses.
The 1976
Swine Flu epidemic
in the US resulted in the
rushed development
of a vaccine that was
far worse than the disease,
causing many cases of
Gullain-Barré Syndrome,
an immune system disorder.
For COVID-19,
the government
policy response
of shutting down
borders and
‘social distancing’
will "flatten the curve"
of infections, allowing
hospitals to better cope
with the volume of
people who need
their help.
But throwing millions
of employees out of work
is a very bad side effect.
Social scientists
are concerned
about financially
vulnerable
and mentally
vulnerable people,
such as lonely people
who have become
much lonelier with
the lockdowns.
CHINA DATA:
The virus started
in Wuhan, China.
Doctors were
arrested after
sounding
an alarm.
Statisticians and
epidemiologists
quickly noted
the data were
very likely
to have been
made up.
ITALY DATA:
Textile towns
of northern Italy,
produce goods
"Made in Italy.
That often means Chinese
workers in Chinese-owned
mills, located in Italy !
Northern Italy has a huge
Chinese immigrant population,
many of whom travel to
and from Wuhan.
Italy has direct flights
to Wuhan, China.
Many returned to China
to celebrate the
Chinese New Year
from January 25 to
February 8, 2020.
When they returned,
the migrants
were NOT tested
in Italian airports and
their movement
was NOT restricted
in any way.
Italian Prime Minister Conte
suggested stronger actions,
which leftists attacked
as "fascist".
When the public displayed
hostility to Chinese migrants
in February 2020, the Mayor
of Florence launched a
‘Hug a Chinese’ campaign.
The COVID-19 effect on
Northern Italy has been
alarming, but perhaps
the data are faulty.
Many varying infection
and mortality rates
between countries
are probably caused
by different ways
of collecting
statistics.
Former Israeli
Health Minister,
Professor Yoram Lass
has pointed out that Italy
has more than three times
the morbidity from
respiratory diseases
than any other
European country.
Italian Professor
Walter Riccardi
has estimated
that only 12%
of death certificates
in Italy have shown
a direct causality
from COVID-19.
Italian data show that only
1% of those dying have
no other ailments,
and almost 50% have
three or more.
In fact, data show
the overall deaths
for Italians 65+
have been lower
than usual this winter.
Riccardi’s point is that
most Italians have died
with COVID-19, not
because of COVID-19.