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Global coronavirus death toll exceeds 300,000

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By Lisa Shumaker and Jane Wardell

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© Thomson Reuters 2020.

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Thank you Strangerland. - Exactly what I would have replied to those that seem to think true eradication is anywhere close.

and peter14: I am not a negative person, I do believe that there will a be a Vaccine one day, I just think its a lot further away than you seem to think it might be, making a disease that has penetrated so much of society, so quickly much more difficult to treat. 'Dropping' towards eradication is NOT eradication.

My argument about your lockdown: I know that essential services are still operating - I am not stupid. My point was that your idea of lockdown leading to eradication would lead to a complete cessation of society.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

you could look up Dr. Rashid Buttar,

Really, an anti-vaccine campaigner!!!!

You know that polio was eradicated in most of the world due to use of vaccines right??

Not to mention his wild conspiracy theories, he’s accused US of creating the virus.

I prefer medical advice from doctors not entertainers!!!

0 ( +1 / -1 )

Anyone talking eradication needs to understand, that's not even a conversation that's on the table right now. There will be no eradication until there is a vaccine.

Lock downs are for exactly what they have said from the start - to flatten the curve, allowing medical systems to be able to both effectively treat the people who do catch it, as well as giving some breathing space during which we can search for a vaccine.

Most countries have managed to flatten the curve, achieving the goal of letting their medical systems ramp up and prepare, so they are better able to deal with the issue. And the world has come together like never before in its drive to find a vaccine, and in examining cases to determine the most effective methods of treatment.

Scientists and epidemiologists are not talking eradication yet however. Once the virus got past the point of containment, which likely was before 99% of the world even had a clue anything was happening, the strategy by the scientists and epidemiologists was aimed at mitigation, not containment or eradication.

-1 ( +1 / -2 )

But it won’t be the lockdown you desire. If you desire eradication then you must forgo all jobs, utilities, Essential services like Supermarkets? How would that be posdible.

Incorrect. Essential services, freight, supermarkets and pharmacists are all in operation in South Australia and the rest of Australia and the numbers continue to drop towards eradication. Recent relaxing of restrictions in some states has happened and already the numbers are rising again in some. This shows that restrictions work and you need patience, and that reopening before you have eradicated the virus is a mistake as it will take hold again.

Oh ye of little faith. Glass half empty? So much effort into why we cant beat it and none into actually helping.

Negative people only help the virus.

If you were from the 19th century you would no doubt argue that mankind will never fly, its just impossible, will we grow wings? See what is possible and then make it so. Be negative and never accomplish anything.

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@Peter14: If you desire eradication then you must forgo all jobs, utilities, Essential services like Supermarkets? How would that be posdible. One customer, one staff member would constantly reset your day count. This is not like Sars in 2003 which required very close contact to cause infection and an actual transfer of some form of bodily fluid. I’ve done my reading this evening. Millions of lives over years? Impossible to predict, and as harsh as it sounds have you actually looked at the majority of those dying? Yes, its sad, all desth is, but the number could be as high as 75% that would die in the next 18 months anway.

At the end of year, ‘excess death’ can be assessed accurately, and other than the 5, so for obvious countries who have suffered the most, I doubt it will be much above average.

Come to Tokyo...see the differences. Easy to judge when you are 10 hours away on a plane.

-2 ( +0 / -2 )

Ulyses:

I did try to look up Dr Bhakdi but cannot find any concrete suggestions beyond a ‘Democratic Approach’

Probably you need to read German to find more material on him. In English, you could look up Dr. Rashid Buttar,

Dr. Jay Bhattacharya, or Dr. John Ioannidis. Just off the cuff.

What CNN et al tell you is a selective opinion, not the whole range.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Other scientists like e.g. Prof. Sucharat Bhagdi completely disagree with him... but guess who gets the "mainstream" media megaphone.

I did try to look up Dr Bhakdi but cannot find any concrete suggestions beyond a ‘Democratic Approach’

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Ecuador is one such country where it's especially bad

"Corpses Lie For Days As Ecuador Struggles To Keep Up With COVID-19 Deaths"

https://www.npr.org/sections/coronavirus-live-updates/2020/04/03/826675439/corpses-lie-for-days-as-ecuador-struggles-to-keep-up-with-covid-19-deaths

"Bodies of Covid-19 victims pile up in streets of Ecuador as residents beg authorities for help"

https://www.rt.com/news/484944-ecuador-coronavirus-bodies-streets/

0 ( +0 / -0 )

The # would have been higher if people didn't practice any social distancing at all. So thank the people who practiced social distancing

"One chart shows how many Americans are dying from the coronavirus each week compared with other common causes of death like heart disease, cancer, and the flu"

https://www.businessinsider.com/chart-us-weekly-coronavirus-deaths-compared-heart-disease-cancer-flu-2020-4

COVID-19 is now killing more Americans weekly than heart disease or cancer did on average per week in 2018.

Even bad flu seasons, like the 2017-18 season, in which an estimated 61,000 Americans were killed — including 7,119 by the flu or pneumonia in a single week — didn't claim lives as quickly as COVID-19 did last week.

And the US is an advanced country - and they still couldn't stop the Covid-19 from killing more people than the other diseases. Imagine in the less advanced countries

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ulysses;

Do you have any qualifications/experience that make your opinion more worthy than the one given by doctors, epidemiologists and scientists?

Note that not all doctors, epidemiologists and scientists have the same opinion. For example Dr. Fauci, who we see in the media every day, is on the board of the Bill Gates foundation. No conflict of interest?

Other scientists like e.g. Prof. Sucharat Bhagdi completely disagree with him... but guess who gets the "mainstream" media megaphone.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Klausdorth:

Just look outside the CNN/NYT etc. bubble.

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

Klausdorth:

where did you get this information?

You can googit, base on the info I gave. (For example: http://blauerbote.com/2020/04/07/die-obduktion-der-corona-toten/)

-1 ( +0 / -1 )

You simply cannot use South Australia as an example of 'getting it right' when the population is 1.7 Million people

1.33 million of whom live in one city.

Eradication is the only viable solution and that is the size that does fit all.

Being prepared to live with it and planning to live with it is to give up on hundreds of thousands of lives and over years, millions of lives. That is unacceptable.

Ending the virus like ending SARS is what is acceptable and it is achievable. I think perhaps those not willing to aim for and work towards that probably give up on anything that seems hard in life. What a shame.

-2 ( +1 / -3 )

I am not spouting illegitimate responses - you are just quoting others without an opinion of your own.

Do you have any qualifications/experience that make your opinion more worthy than the one given by doctors, epidemiologists and scientists?

I don't , so I don't pretend to be an expert on an area on which I have little knowledge beyond what I read in the media.

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Ok Peter - Understood. I have a question - if on day 29 of zero cases, one should emerge, you would wish the 30 day lockdown to reset? Indefintely?

Do you have any idea of the damage that would eventually cause to the mental health of many hundreds of people? It will kill more than the Virus will. Do you have any idea of the damage to the economy? This virus is so widespread - it is not like Sars in 2003 or Mers in 2012, its incredibly more infectious and will be around for a LONG time. The chances of it being eradicated totally are close to zero. As others have said, there simply will not be a vaccine for a long time - possibly years and then it would still have to be made acccessible everybody. Innoculation itself would take years - let alone production of enough vaccine!

You simply cannot use South Australia as an example of 'getting it right' when the population is 1.7 Million people and such an enourmous land mass. Its not going to work everywhere like that. Greater Tokyo has 14 million people to contend with. Its not a 'one size fits all' approach.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

How long do you propose that the lockdowns stay in place?

Until there have been no new cases reported for 30 days. The state of South Australia has been on lock down for a couple of months and they have not reported any new cases for the past eight days. If this continues for another three weeks then I would say that state is ready to reopen but not to reopen its domestic borders until connecting states have reached the same goal. You cant live with this virus without continuing to condemn people to death who would otherwise not die if they did not contract the virus. SA is on the way to eradication in that state. It is possible to do and they are showing the world how to do it. Those espousing a herd immunity approach or just living with it are those who do not expect to die from it. Selfish people should be heard but then ignored when their selfish nature is unearthed. Only the future can tell the true numbers of people who died from contracting Covid-19 and whatever the total ends up being it is much to high. No need to make it higher from being selfish. Help everyone because we are all in this like it or not, and you never know when its going to get YOU.

-1 ( +2 / -3 )

@Magnet

A vaccine is a possibility, but it's no guarantee. We have no idea when a successful vaccine might be developed. Or, if a vaccine is developed, will this virus have mutated by then so that the vaccine is ineffective against them? It takes up to a year to develop the routine annual flu shot, which typically only has a 50-50 chance at being effective in a given year. Developing a new vaccine for a new disease is likely to take much longer, especially if first attempts fail, which is common.

If we wait for a vaccine, we could be locked down a year, two years, or forever.

It's nonsense to wait for a vaccine. Half the world could be dead from starvation by then because of the disruptive effects of strict lock downs. It's extremely rare in human history that we've ever been able to fully eliminate a disease. The public health goal is to manage disease outbreaks so that they don't cause deep harm to society. Huge numbers of deaths from a virus can cause great harm to society. So can economically devastating lock downs that strip people of their ability to pay for food and rent. Public health authorities have to balance these two needs in any decision-making process.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

@Magnet: Another one. You say its not the right time to ease restrictions but many countries are as the realisation sets in about the age/health/demographic of person that is dyiing (in general) - that there will NOT be a vaccine for possibly years and that there will (not maybe) be second waves at any time.

How long do you propose that the lockdowns stay in place? Until there is a Vaccine? There certainly won't be a cure. I accept that there must and will be some restrictions on our way of life but not without greater death from other reasons further down the line related to this situation. Its very clear that those whose only argument is lockdown on this forum don't have a realistic answer for a way out.

@ulysses: Starting point today - until June 1st when the SOE in Tokyo is likely to be rescinded. I am not spouting illegitimate responses - you are just quoting others without an opinion of your own.

0 ( +3 / -3 )

300K death toll from coronavirus around the world, while heart disease alone kills over twice that amount in the United States alone.

Reopen the world already.

3 ( +5 / -2 )

Absolutely not the right time for any country to be easing restrictions and lockdown measures. We're not even close to finding a vaccine for this thing. It only takes 1 infected to cause a hotspot cluster. Stay safe everyone. Just because you can head out and socialise, doesn't mean you should.

-2 ( +2 / -4 )

One-Third of All U.S. Coronavirus Deaths Are Nursing Home Residents or Workers

https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/05/09/us/coronavirus-cases-nursing-homes-us.html

1 ( +1 / -0 )

please outline realistic mesures that can be put into place in a 7-14 day window.

What is the starting point of your window? And how do you arrive at that window?

Scientists , epidemiologist have prescribed multiple measures, and yes most of them involve avoiding crowded places, maintaining social distance etc etc. So rather than spouting out illegitimate responses I would rely on those who have the knowledge to do so?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@ulysees: OK - Accepted, please outline realistic mesures that can be put into place in a 7-14 day window.

Thats all you have here.

0 ( +1 / -1 )

@ulysses: You clearly missed the point in my message where I stated 'at THIS point in time'.

There have been a few coronavirus death toll predictions each taking into account different set of partakers. A few have been accurate, a few underestimated it and a few overestimated.

Each takes into account different factors, response times, treatments, preventive measures etc etc.

When doctors give you any medication, more often than not, they take a conservative estimate, because their role is to treat the disease and make it go away. Prescribing an ineffective medication with the hope that the disease might go away by itself would not be a sensible option.

So unless we have conditions where the spread of infections slows down, or there is effective treatment, opening up is not correct.

Restarting businesses without proper measures is foolish , dangerous and irresponsible .

0 ( +4 / -4 )

The focus is shifting from lets beat this by eradicating it, to lets just learn to live with it and its consequences.

It can only be eradicated by herd immunity, not by lock down. Lock downs only flatten the curve and delay the onset of herd immunity.

And for those that still believe that the death counts represent people that died from Covid19, watch this:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEQGs12dQ70

2 ( +5 / -3 )

But there were would more dead bodies than usual if they were, right?

And like I said, how do you know that there aren't?

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@ulysses: You clearly missed the point in my message where I stated 'at THIS point in time'.

zichi - You are totally correct. I fear I cannot state my true views here because of readership politics. But yes, VERY clearly underlying health and socioeconomics are a major issue in death toll. If that is not what you meant I do of course apologise.

1 ( +3 / -2 )

Totally incorrect. If we had based everthing on science the death toll was predicted to be 10 times higher at THIS point in time.

Has the virus disappeared that you know the toll death count?

0 ( +3 / -3 )

@Yubaru. But there were would more dead bodies than usual if they were, right?

4 ( +6 / -2 )

 To what degree you label it as "from" or "with" Corona is largely an opinion.

No, it's not an opinion, consider this, if they hadn't contracted the virus, they would still be alive today!

-4 ( +3 / -7 )

300,000 is certainly bad but far below the numbers predicted, right? Also, I have a question; if the Corona virus is so deadly, why haven't the homeless around the world been devastated? They don't practice social distancing and don't wash their hands, etc.

And how do you know they haven't? As you say they are homeless, so no body is keeping track are they.

1 ( +4 / -3 )

I suspect the death toll is about 1.5 million, and the number of infected is at least 45 million... Very few honest governments around...

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

@ulysses:

Totally incorrect. If we had based everthing on science the death toll was predicted to be 10 times higher at THIS point in time. Its not anywhere- however badly and horribly affected.

There IS going to be a second wave. Could be in a month. Could be Mid Summer. Could be Mid Winter.

Now the major countries have some hard data about the demographic of death and have actually realised that this Virus is here to stay for years (at best) - Its time we adapt and move on.

Those who think there is a proved and safe vaccine coming anytime soon are frankly living on Cloud Nine. As for a cure? Sorry - but there will not be one. At best a viral inhibitor.

It's not 'petty politics'. It's realism. If we don't restart life with 75% normailty right NOW then the death from poverty, suicide will far exceed the death toll from this virus, by a factor of 10.

and @Yubaru: I am not a naysayer - just being realistic.

1 ( +5 / -4 )

Yubaru:

And the naysayers will jump in here and say that all these deaths are due to "underlying conditions" and nothing to do with corona!

Actually, in the places where they have done autopsies (like Hamburg) they found that all cases of death had underlying conditions. To what degree you label it as "from" or "with" Corona is largely an opinion. You certainly do not want to catch the bug if you obese, have diabetes or a number of other problems.

-3 ( +4 / -7 )

300,000 is certainly bad but far below the numbers predicted, right? Also, I have a question; if the Corona virus is so deadly, why haven't the homeless around the world been devastated? They don't practice social distancing and don't wash their hands, etc.

-1 ( +6 / -7 )

“Ontario taking ‘immediate action’ after uptick in mysterious illness in kids that could be linked to COVID-19”

https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-taking-immediate-action-after-uptick-in-mysterious-illness-in-kids-that-could-be-linked-to-covid-19-1.4937349#_gus&_gucid=&_gup=twitter&_gsc=WfeeHHW

2 ( +3 / -1 )

it seems that they included any kind of death to boost the corona case figures. stop the propaganda.

-5 ( +6 / -11 )

"If we fail to improve our response now, based on science, I fear the pandemic will get worse and be prolonged,"

Totally correct.

Leaders who are putting their petty politics above the safety of the people are leading the world to a disaster.

China took the lead in this irresponsible behavior , the US, Russia and Brazil have taken over now.

3 dictators and 1 wanna be dictator is all that it takes to lead the world to a disaster!!

-2 ( +7 / -9 )

And the naysayers will jump in here and say that all these deaths are due to "underlying conditions" and nothing to do with corona!

-7 ( +7 / -14 )

Sadly this is only going to get much worse. The number of cases is increasing as governments try to reopen economies and remove restrictions before the virus has been eradicated. New hot spots develop and clusters get bigger. The obvious inference is that people are going to live with losing loved ones so that business as usual can continue as it used to. The virus will become a part of everyday life for the survivors until some type of medication is found to either inoculate or to cure. Healthy people who develop high blood pressure or diabetes will move into higher risk groups with increased chance of death when they catch the virus.

The focus is shifting from lets beat this by eradicating it, to lets just learn to live with it and its consequences.

We cant lose focus or hope that we can eradicate this. SARS is gone but not forgotten, we can put covid-19 into the same category if we keep working to eradicate this scourge.

All nations are having issues with money so create a second system of "covid dollars" that all nations can create to give citizens to purchase whats needed until the virus is beaten then those dollars become worthless and every nation reverts to the normal monetary system. Making sure that nobody is worse off financially in money or assets from the start of the second system.

Think outside the box to beat this thing. We are a pretty smart species when we try, I am sure we can work something out to deal with this and then carry on as normal once the danger is past.

0 ( +8 / -8 )

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