[acqq]

We have the data we need. We know how fast it grows, we know how bad it is. It's at least order of magnitude (as in, surely ten times) worse than flu:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Is_COVID-19_like_a_flu%3F...

As shown, in Italy there were 55 times more deaths per week (two weeks already) than the peek during the flu season. And it continues to grow.

> are people actually going to hospitals when they don't need to?

Surely no. In Italy, it is known that even the people who should go to hospitals can't be all admitted because the number of cases grows exponentially and fast, when uncontrolled. No limited resources could handle that.

People already die because the hospitals are too full.

Additionally, all people who are checked but than estimated to be able to survive without the hospital are advised to stay at home. But some of those still get sicker and die at home. That happens, infrequently for now, even in other European countries.

The reason people are admitted to hospitals is that they have so big problems breathing that they either immediately or at least soon have to be connected to the breathing machines. Which nobody would ever do to a healthy enough person, it's to save the life.

That's what are ICU on the graph above "intensive care units" -- the number of beds in typically small parts of hospitals where typically small number of people has to be connected to the machines to help them survive. Now the demand for those is huge.

And even 30-year old doctors get to have to be treated so:

https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11226440/three-junior-doctors-...

[RobertRoberts]

Consider this, if the news reported "Old people with pre-existing conditions should quarantine themselves because a deadly virus may kill them", that would be rational advice based on data.

Instead, the entire economy has been shut down, and the solution? Test everyone regardless of risk or value of testing. This is not rational, and many scientists and doctors are saying this.

Doctors and nurses should be tested regularly as they are more susceptible to contraction do to proximity, and the elderly or those in contact with areas of high infection or high risk of fatality.

Poorly reported sensationalism in the news needs a proper counter balance. And society needs something to overcome their power to induce irrational panic so easily.

[admax88q]

> Instead, the entire economy has been shut down, and the solution?

The hospitals are being overrun.

Your whole comments just reads like you're upset that you can't go out with your friends anymore. "Why should I have to stay at home, its the old people that are in danger, they should have to stay home."

The hospitals are being overrun. That means that if left unchecked the virus overwhelms healthcare. Just yesterday we've hospitalized people in their 30s and 40s here. It's not just the old people who need intensive care. It seems to be its the old people who die even with intensive care.

[rwcarlsen]

They are being overrun with panic of the citizenry in the U.S. so far - not with people needing hospital care. At least so says my E.R. doctor sister.

[acqq]

At the moment, but the spread is exponential, and the U.S. in not an exception. It's just a matter of N days, where N is not a too big number. Everybody can do his own math, provided he understands the math enough.

But be aware of anybody who hasn't done the math. He simply doesn't know what he talks about.

[binaryone]

>The hospitals are being overrun.

Which hospitals in the US are being overrun by Covid cases? Close friend works at a large hospital just north of Sacramento (near the first Covid death in California)... not a single Covid patient in their hospital. Heard a guy from NYU Lagone on the radio earlier - said they're nowhere near capacity. I'm not saying this isn't serious, but a lot of the rhetoric is alarmism with no basis in fact at this point.

[admax88q]

"Were not overwhelmed yet so its fine"

Cases are still growing exponentially. The hospitals in Italy are being overrun. They were being overrun in China.

[empath75]

What harm is there in testing everyone?

[odkamkfn]

If it can be done cheaply and easily while preventing additional infections, no harm at all. In fact, testing as many people as possible to isolate carriers is, I believe, the single best way to handle this crisis. It's not doable at this point, although hopefully we'll get there.

[odkamkfn]

We do not have all the data we need. Just for starters, we don't know why the situation is so much worse in Italy than in Japan.

[acqq]

> we don't know why the situation is so much worse in Italy than in Japan.

So... because we don't know why just Asian countries are better than Western in controlling the outbreak, the Western countries should just... do nothing to control the outbreak?

In spite already being in disadvantage?

And having the examples that we know worked?

Seriously?