Looks like Covid-19 is mostly an old folks virus. Kids are barely if at all effected by it. Once again I have to wonder why all the hysteria now and not in the Swine flu pandemic that killed children by the thousands. Politics anyone? "So far, out of the more than 87,000 confirmed coronavirus cases worldwide, no children have been reported as having serious complications. Limited reports of children with COVID-19 in China have described cold-like symptoms, such as fever, a runny nose and cough" https://www.news.com.au/lifestyle/h...s/news-story/9a40bc00c6087ea5926254d551162d61
you already know the answer Yes, it's dangerous to the elderly and the concept is to shield the elderly from the younger folk, thus the shutdowns. In the end, you are correct, it's a bad cold
On a serious note, the best news about this viral pneumonia is that children stand an extremely good chance of survival. I feel for anyone who suffers through it, but the fact that kids do so well scatters the doom and gloom.
The Corona virus has already been observed to have undergone at least two major mutations, and now there are at least THREE Corona virus 'strains' making their way around the world. Link: https://science.sciencemag.org/content/367/6483/1176 The point? Like the "Spanish Flu" of a hundred years ago, the Corona virus can mutate and CHANGE, and so can the human population segment it targets. The next 'target' could be any demographic group -- including the very young.... The other point? What's ravaging Europe at this moment is a Corona variant that has already developed significantly different, identifiable characteristics from the 'parent' virus that popped-up in China a few months ago....
The evidence so far shows that children are, indeed, at a much lower risk of contracting the virus than adults. But the idea that the virus only kills the elderly and sick isn't accurate. In China and Italy, which make up the vast number of deaths, the profile of those who have died from the virus does tend to support the notion that the elderly are significantly more at risk of falling seriously ill or dying from the virus, although even then there are cases of otherwise healthy people in these countries becoming ill and even dying. But elsewhere, in Iran and now Holland in particular, the number of younger adults who have become seriously ill from the virus isn't inconsequential at all. https://www.politico.com/news/2020/...utbreak-could-strain-health-facilities-129895 Iran says worsening outbreak could strain health facilities Iran is battling one of the worst outbreaks outside China. https://dutchreview.com/news/dutch/half-the-patients-in-intensive-care-are-under-the-age-of-50/ Half the patients in intensive care are under the age of 50 in the Netherlands
Not surprising... what is killing people in Europe right now is most likely a MUTATION of the original "Chinese" Corona virus. There are already at least two mutated 'variants' of that "Wuhan" virus that popped-up last November or December in China....
"The NRC reports that half the patients in the ICU may be under 50 because the number of people in that demographic is just relatively bigger than in other countries. It could also be that these numbers are completely representative because there just aren’t that many coronavirus patients in the ICU." Seems it may just be a statistical anomaly.
Could be a genetic issue. Some people may be more susceptible to lung issues than others. The Dutch population is very small and interbred for a very long time.
I've been trolling and clowning around a bit where this virus is concerned, not because the virus is a joke, but because of the world's collective reaction. Media primarily. The vast majority of all people on this planet are going to be fine. Even those at greatest risk will likely survive. The reaction doesn't match the threat.
What you quoted doesn't make it a statistical anomaly. The fact that Italy, for instance, has a very aged population would naturally skew the mortality towards the elderly even if the virus was 'an equal opportunity killer' (which it isn't, as the elderly are indeed at greater risk). By contrast, having a slightly more balanced demographic profile like in Holland (or in Iran) will give you a more representative picture of how the virus can afflict younger people too. I have followed the virus longer than you have in the US. While the sick and elderly are disproportionately at risk, there are otherwise healthy young people who have died from the virus in Iran. Two of the more notable ones are these two people, one of whom was a female futsal player in Iran and the other a nurse. Again, there is no doubt that the risk of getting seriously ill (and, especially, dying) increases with age and the virus is most harmful to those over 60 (and harmful enough in the 50-60 category), especially if you are exposed to a sufficient dose of the virus (e.g., health care workers and others taking care of people who are ill from the virus), you can come becoming seriously ill from it even if you are young. Even die. The cases in Holland show that too, even if they might prove a statistical anomaly (in terms of the percentage, not the significant risk) eventually as the numbers rise further in Holland. Nargis Khanalizadeh Elham Sheikhi, 23 year old fustal player who died from the coronavirus in Iran (pictured below).
What is your point. Anomalies always exist. The vast majority that succumb to this virus are old with an underlying condition whereas Swine Flu killed all ages and children especially suffered.
I heard in some report last night on one of the news channels that by its third year, the "Spanish Flu" virus had become less destructive overall. It has been suggested that by that time, many people had become resistant to it, but I'm not sure at all about that. Supposedly, under the right conditions, viruses generally follow a progression from 'epidemic' to 'pandemic', and finally, to 'endemic'... meaning (I think) that it finally becomes just another recurring, 'background' virus that appears in one manifestation or mutation or another year after year....
Same with this virus. Nobody has resistance to it now but that will come as we all eventually contract it