[tchocky]

The people you know don't matter. The goal is not to overburden the health system. Hospitals have a limited amount of intensive care units. And if Covid patients fill them up doctors need to do triage (that happened on the first wave in Italy). Then it's not only an issue of people who have Covid, but also a problem of other people who need an intensive care unit.

Also just because you don't know anyone doesn't mean it's bad. If we can reduce people dying it's worth doing it. And it's just not a few in this case.

[elorant]

That's the thing though. If we scare the shit out of everyone then they will all run to the nearest hospital the moment they have even mild symptoms. And then things will get worse for everyone. Doctors who are already exhausted might catch it and die, patients who entered the hospital for other reasons might also catch it and die, and the list goes on. We need to chill the f*ck down because there's enough panic spreading around.

[tchocky]

Of course we don't need panic. People should go to their family doctor first (and before going there just call, mine now only works with appointments for flu like symptoms). Here in Germany doctors can also give out a sick leave over the phone. The hospitals should only be visited in severe cases.

[adrr]

Hospitals are already filled with Covid patients. There’s almost 70,000 people who are hospitalized with the virus. Elective surgeries are being postponed again. People don’t understand the seriousness of the virus and it continues to spread uncontrolled straining our medical infrastructure.

[elorant]

Yes, and most of them shouldn't even be at the hospital. That's the point I'm trying to make. By making everyone hysterical they run to hospitals like flock, hindering the ability to nurse other patients with serious problems. Just stay home if you have covid, in the majority of cases hospitals can't help you either way.

[bluGill]

Most of the people in the hospital have been there for days or weeks. There is a small admissions of figuring out who needs to stay in the hospital vs just send home, but that is comparatively easy, just run a few tests and you will know. The real problem is those who need special care in a hospital bed. So long as there is a bed with staff to treat 80% will walk out after a few weeks. But as soon as there are not enough staff 100% will die in a few days.