An early look at death rates indicates omicron is only slightly less deadly that the strains that swept thru USA last winter. Last winter, Dec 20, 2020 to Mar 20, 2021, covid killed 220,000 Americans. The early look indicates this winter's toll be much worse. Since cases are now 3x as high as last winter it may be double or triple last years 220,000.
from https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2022/01/09/us/omicron-cities-cases-hospitals.html:
I would presume with home testing that the number of reported cases is low. Which would infer the hospitalization/death numbers are high. While a sad thing the infections & hospitalizations are much higher in the unvaxxed. So I see no change in behavior coming. I have found my balance with isolation & risk management. I upgraded to N95 masks, and may try a bit more on the isolation side. Looks to me like the drain on social security will drop (trying for dark humor here)......
ReplyDeleteBest to all..
Also, I looked at South Africa where the omicron strain was first found & they are now at ~10% of our infection rate (on a per capita basis). They also reported a lower hospitalization & death rate. Hence, it will not be pretty in the US, but we will endure I expect.
ReplyDeleteAgreed. For the vaccinated, it should not as bad as last winter. And it should not be as bad for the economy overall. But in total lives lost, it could be the worst covid winter yet.
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