Cyprus-Forum.com

[Paphitis]

[Tim Drayton]

The UK ONS stats for total deaths in England and Wales for week 14 - week ending 3rd April 2020 suggest that what is occurring is very different from the flu epidemic of 2015. next figures due on the 21st.

Comparing total numbers of those who died in 2015 from flu with numbers that we have whilst in the midst of a global pandemic of a completely new virus is misguided imo in so many ways and in many ways is to me not that very different from the accusations of 'media sensationalism' , just at the other end of that same spectrum. Look at the figures for 2015 and that flu epidemic. There is nothing in those that is like the numbers seen for week 14 in 2020.

Fair point, but:

1- There have been similar jumps during past major epidemics (e.g. during the 1968 so-called Hong Kong flu).
2- There is a lot of controversy over that figure, too, because it shows an increase of about 5000 as against the previous week and of about 6000 over the five-year average, yet there were about 3000 officially declared coronavirus deaths that week, so something does not add up.

[erolz66]

The UK ONS stats for total deaths in England and Wales for week 14 - week ending 3rd April 2020 suggest that what is occurring is very different from the flu epidemic of 2015. next figures due on the 21st.

Comparing total numbers of those who died in 2015 from flu with numbers that we have whilst in the midst of a global pandemic of a completely new virus is misguided imo in so many ways and in many ways is to me not that very different from the accusations of 'media sensationalism' , just at the other end of that same spectrum. Look at the figures for 2015 and that flu epidemic. There is nothing in those that is like the numbers seen for week 14 in 2020.

Fair point, but:

1- There have been similar jumps during past major epidemics (e.g. during the 1968 so-called Hong Kong flu).
2- There is a lot of controversy over that figure, too, because it shows an increase of about 5000 as against the previous week and of about 6000 over the five-year average, yet there were about 3000 officially declared coronavirus deaths that week, so something does not add up.

Also fair points. Re the discrepancy , as I see things.

The ONS has been collecting weekly stats on total deaths by any and all causes in the UK for a long time now. The collection of 'coronavirus death' figures is something new entirely.
Dead or not dead is about as binary distinction as there can be. Cause of death at any time and especially now is inherently not 'binary'.

On a more general theme I have noticed here but also elsewhere that there are those who previously used the ONS figures when they were only up to week 13 as indicative that 'its all over blown media hype' who when week 14 came out are either silent about such figures or are now attempting to question them in way they did not when they only went up to week 13. There IS media hype and there is imo the reverse of that as well. Where as the media hype is the primary responsibility of the media, this 'anti hype' is the responsibility of those engaged in such imo.

[Tim Drayton]

You will note that I conceded that very point here:

cyprus47326-110.html

I am not impervious to evidence, as I am not to the results of Prof. Henrik Streeck's study which showed the coronavirus to have a mortality rate of only 0.37% in the general population, which is in fact lower than influenza and far lower than some of the figures the media have been screaming at us.

[repulsewarrior]

...hiding the facts; one can assume there are many private institutions who are doing the same, in America.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52314860

[erolz66]

You will note that I conceded that very point here:

cyprus47326-110.html

I am not impervious to evidence, as I am not to the results of Prof. Henrik Streeck's study which showed the coronavirus to have a mortality rate of only 0.37% in the general population, which is in fact lower than influenza and far lower than some of the figures the media have been screaming at us.

I did indeed note that and the fact that I am choosing to engage with you here is not unconnected to me having noticed that. I likewise am not impervious to the studies like Henrik's either. They are part of the vital serious study and work going on around the world that is step by step helping us to understand this virus better so better choices can be made. I do not claim that the reaction has not been disproportionate to the actual risk. I just do not know and am yet to be personally strongly convinced one way or the other. I think my duty is not to 'pick a side' and seek to support that side having picked it but to do my best to be led by the evidence as best as I can understand and interpret it.

[erolz66]

...hiding the facts; one can assume there are many private institutions who are doing the same, in America.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-52314860

And how much of this is going on in one form or another across the world ?

https://www.miamiherald.com/news/corona ... 50696.html

[repulsewarrior]

...indeed.

[Paphitis]

Do people realize that when Chy-na discovered they had a problem which they tried to downplay from the rest of the world, they completely isolated and closed off Wu-han province.

In the meantime, whilst Chy-na saw it fit to isolate Wuhan province, international flights between Wuhan Province and the rest of the world (Europe, Africa, Asia, Australia, and North America) until some countries started to isolate Chy-na completely - the USA, Australia, South Korea, NZ and Japan being the quickest to react.

Then when countries like USA, Australia, and NZ reacted by shutting their borders to Chy-na, we were all called racist as Chy-na and WHO were quick to condemn us as over reactors and that our decisions were politically motivated against Chy-na.

Watch the video I posted just earlier where Alexander Downer was being interviewed by Credlin. Those of you who do not know who Credlin is, she was the chief advisor to PM Tony Abbott.

Alexander Downer is no slouch himself, as he was Australia's Foreign Affairs Minister for 11 years and had regular dealings with Chy-na, and even met with Chi Chi Peanut on many occasions.

The the question needs to be asked. Why was it serious enough for Chy-na to completely isolate Wu-han and at the same time allow international connections from Wuhan to the rest of the world? It doesn't make sense.

As I said before, Chy-na needs to be put under the microscope here because I can smell the stench a mile away.

[Get Real!]

You’re a victim of Trump’s little scapegoat tricks, Paphitis…

China acted weird because what was happening to them was weird… they had no idea why their citizens were dropping dead like flies, and were understandably scrambling to get control of the situation… which is exactly the reaction I would expect from a nation in shock and panic!

But what’s important Paphits, isn’t how China reacted but…

WHO DID IT?

Who unleashed this horrible virus on the Chinese which went on to infect the whole planet?

That’s what we should be concentrating on, not mambo-jumbo!