Similar stats from Wisconsin:
Those Wisconsin numbers are interesting. As a neighboring state, we get Wisconsin "reports" every night on the news. They report that Green Bay/Door County is getting hammered -- complete with footage of overwhelmed doctors and hospitals. Yet the map shows the area with no change over two weeks. The Fox Valley region right below has an 18% decline. The facts and news don't seem to align.
Could also be that the washing, social distancing, and masks and everything we are doing to prevent COVID is having a significant impact on lesser forms of influenza. Doc’s have been saying for many years about hand washing and all the other recommendations to reduce spread of flu. Most people are being more COVID careful which would really slow a less virulent strain.
I think Creekwood is on the right track. Looking at the example of New Zealand, they have had only had 25 covid deaths so far as opposed to an average 500+ influenza deaths. This year they have had only officially recorded 6 flu positives and no deaths. So, even if they had flu deaths were mistaken for covid, they would still have a 99.5% reduction.
I always wondered why some Asians living in Canada, particularly those from mainland China, often wear masks in public. I was told that it is because of air pollution in China. I expect there have been viral outbreaks we have not heard about in the west in the past in China.
Back when I was frequenting Asia, 20+ years ago, mask-wearing was by no means unusual. I understand the SARS/MERS/Avian Flu experiences made it even more prevalent. I suspect some amount of mask-wearing will become the norm in North America moving forward. It won't necessarily be mandated but will become a personal choice.
I've a buddy who is an OB/GYN in Green Bay. They are pretty full. His assessment this morning: His hospital is doing 500+ tests a day with a 20-50% positive rate. Most are not sick, but they are at capacity for COVID beds. They are sending people home with O2, steroids, and platelet inhibitors unless/until pulse ox less than 90. Then they are admitted. Death rate is lower than other areas.
I was in China last October and spent a bunch of time with my team over there. This was before all of the Covid stuff broke, and there were people wearing masks when outdoors, I would guess it was around 50% in the big cities, less when out of them. I asked some of the people on my team what the motivation to wear masks came from and they told me it was one of three things, likely in this order:
Hadn't thought about the privacy issue, but with a communist country that imprisons its people for anything considered subversive, I can understand that.
Good to see your economy is doing OK. Canada is not well where we are. High unemployment and no jobs. My son is an engineer laid off two months ago. His comment was there are 300 people applying for any job. Daughter has an international MBA from France and is a Geophysicist and has been off work for 2 years (She was in oil).
