CV19 deaths and Vietnam war

[Merlin66]

According to the recent numbers almost as many people have died in the US (57000) from CV19 as the total US deaths during the Vietnam war (58500) all this in a three month period.
Grim statistics.

[julianh72]

And sadly, things are happening so quickly that half an hour after Ken's original post, the American Covid-19 deaths (59,266 as at 4:11 pm Brisbane time) now outstrip the American Vietnam War deaths.
https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/28/846701304/pandemic-death-toll-in-u-s-now-exceeds-vietnam-wars-u-s-fatalities

Stay safe, everybody!

[billdan]

The USA had 38,000 deaths from car accidents in 2019 lower than the 40,000 in 2017.
USA common flu deaths in 2019 was 34,000 and in 2018 it was 61,000.

[xelasnave]

Deaths from starvation run at one million a year.
Alex

[The Mekon]

Thanks for the last two posts that put things in perspective. The Vietnam war deaths were of young men killed in their prime, robbing them of perhaps 50 years of productive life. CV 19 deaths appear to mainly those whose life expectancy was not that long. Here in Australia, I believe our last 5 deaths have all been in nursing homes, and over the age of 80, some over 90.

[glend]

That is a real Millenial attitude John. I am sure all of those people were loved by their families, their children and grandchildren. All of those old folks spent decades supporting Australia through the tax system, their labours, initiative, etc were instrumental in creating the Australia we have today. Any loss of life in this pandemic is tragic, let's not discount them just because their Future Value to the economy makes a poor business case.

[The Mekon]

I am an old baby boomer Glen, and would take a hit any day for the millennials or any of the younger generation. I have already had my life, anything from now on is a bonus. I am of the opinion that many of the CV 19 deaths may well have proceeded from any other strain of the flu or even the common cold. I witnessed as much when my mother in law passed on some years back while in a nursing home.

[Nikolas]

Covid 19 is not a flu it has killed 60000 plus now in the states in 7 WEEKS not over a year. No comparisons with other types of deaths puts this into perspective. Time to kill this thread now

[PCH]

So only your opinion counts?

[luka]

One thing that should be kept in mind when comparing the numbers is the duration. The Vietnam war lasted 20 years and the car or flu deaths are annual. On the other hand all COVID-19 deaths happened within <3 months and the numbers are rising rapidly.

Also, using the published statistics to compare flu to COVID-19 is comparing apples to oranges. Flu statistics are calculated (not reported) and really are an estimate of everybody who died from flu or/and pneumonia, i.e. not only flu.
COVID-19 reporting includes only the direct (hospital) deaths and the undercounting is happening everywhere and is a fact. In Europe you even have neighbouring countries using different methods to count.
As I said, apples and oranges.

Keep the science and facts separate from the ideology and politics.

[Tandum]

I heard drinking bleach is the cure.
Down a litre and you don't have to worry about it ever again.

[h0ughy]

OK enough fellas, points made