That would not account for it. Since to be of merit as an argument, people would have had to be more vigilant about their flu vax last year, not this year.

The respiratory illnesses look the same

@eclair088 again people get tested for both. You think they stopped screening for other diseases besides covid this year.

This is not a normal year. People of merit have to stay silent or be attacked

Except @meglide That isn't what happened.

Actually, yes. Because sheep. ... Mass hysteria.

No @eclair088 that’s not how any of this works

@eclair088 they didn’t stop testing people for other viral diseases

It's exactly what happened

No it isn't.

Fine go live in your fantasy world then

Eh... Appearances seem to be that people are more concerned about their health. However, how many are being hypochondriacs? ... And how many "health hygiene" actions actually are hygienic?

The problem this year, with everyone being hyperpolarized, is that the stupid questions are not being answered. or allowed to be asked.

I am simply not controlled by the MSM and Leftist liars.

Like I said go live in your fantasy world

The reality is the numbers are being misreported on purpose for profit.

I mean, I kinda stopped paying attention to the pandemic crap after the election crap started. ... Thank God, that shit was annoying as hell.

So I mean, there really is no wit or curiosity left in me. So I mean, you could be right. I don't really care. Just throwing my usual arguments out there when I think it is helpful.

But I mean, I am just enjoying my first night in the Discord. 🙂 I like y'all.

@eclair088 again flu is down because more people got vaccinated and more likely people are generally more vigilant. The flu death rate is relatively low and now even lower due to those factors. Covid has a higher cfr and and is more easily spread. Thus the cases and deaths.

Lockdowns caused most of those deaths.

https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/ For a virus that was global before the Chinese identified it in December of 2019, those curves always follow lockdowns and anxiety.

Especially after nov3rd. Lots of anxiety.

Yeah when someone you know is on a ventilator maybe you'll change your tune.

So I am supposed to change my mind when I have something emotional happen?

@eclair088 no lockdowns actually lowered traffic accidents , flu deaths. We still got 300k excess deaths total compared to years prior. People that otherwise would survive the flu did not survive covid. People with diabetes, heart disease etc

See that's the problem you won't believe the numbers you won't believe the reports from the hospitals so I guess it takes someone you know getting it to understand really what's going on

How about giving me an actual rational reason to change my mind instead of wishing death in my life?

Why does it matter how novel this thing appeared to be? Smallpox wasn't novel and yet it still killed people.

I am a mathemagician. I hate numbers.

I told you to go check the numbers at CDC

Those are statistical.

Our disagreement is not on numbers.

Why should I fear a virus that people have a 99% survival chance with?

The worst strain of smallpox was 30%

Those are body counts. Those are the numbers of actual deaths. The CDC website has all the deaths listed per week and you can look at those numbers and compare the numbers and previous years and you'll find we've had over 300,000 extra deaths this year

Someone being on a ventilator does not change the reality that the lock downs have promoted the virus. Nor does it change the fact that we will all get/encounter the disease: without fail.

Why must we lockdown still?

I'm not going to defend lockdowns. But you should understand that this virus is at least 10 times more deadly than an average seasonal flu.

We have fewer places to exist in because of lockdowns, increasing the chances of being near infected people.

Screw the flu. It ain't ebola or smallpox.

There are NO credible information sources that hold there is a 300k additional death rate this year.

I am not a Trump koolaid drinker, so please drop your prejudice.

There is no real evidence to support that Covid is 10x more deadly than a seasonal flu.

Tons of evidence.

None of us are. It is the assumption of the Left that we are mesmerized because we despise everything they seek to impose and are.