UNC is imploding, one week into the semester

[tristatecoog]

Professors are concerned.
I've heard student cases are pretty high -- not following protocol -- and chances of sending people home is still high. If we get to mid-October with a full contingent in the dorms. Whew!

[mustangxc]

Younger people may not die in great numbers but they do transmit the disease to the rest of the population who are more susceptible to the terrible effects of COVID-19. Soon we will be at 300,000 COVID deaths. The flu kills around 50,,000 to 75,000 people annually. This is not the flu.

If you are older or susceptible stay away. Don’t expect other people to put their lives completely on hold for you, robbing them of every normal experience that young people should be having.

By the same token, if you are young (or any age for that matter) and want to live your life then mask up and keep your distance.

[JasonB]

Younger people may not die in great numbers but they do transmit the disease to the rest of the population who are more susceptible to the terrible effects of COVID-19. Soon we will be at 300,000 COVID deaths. The flu kills around 50,,000 to 75,000 people annually. This is not the flu.

If you are older or susceptible stay away. Don’t expect other people to put their lives completely on hold for you, robbing them of every normal experience that young people should be having.

Here is an interesting thing... most of the deaths of Covid come from 65+ (last pull of my number is 6600 of the 9495 deaths in Texas). That said, when you look at the ages of 45-55, 55-65, 65-75, 85+, about 8-9% of the deaths in Texas in each of those age ranges are from Covid. At 35-45, it drops to 7% of deaths, and then it is much lower beyond that. But for 45 and up, it is the third leading cause of death, and closing in [deleted] the front runners (heart and cancer), because Covid only really started going in Texas in May/June. In fact, when you look at % of deaths, the 45-54 age range actually has the highest percentage of deaths related to Covid here in Texas at 9.2%.

That said, only 8226 people in the age range of 45-54 have died this year in Texas. A really small number. So, while Covid is a leading cause of death this year in that age range, only 759 people have died from it.

Given this information, what do you do as a 45-54 year old? You could look at that data and say, for example, that only a thousand or so have died in that age range of heart issues this year, and cancel your blood pressure medication. Or, you can look at it and say that the only reason so few have died of heart issues in that age range is because people take blood pressure medication.

Likewise, you can say that only 759 people aged 45-54 have died of covid, it is worth the risk. Or, you could look at it and say that the only reason so few have died in that age range is because so many people are playing it safe and staying home/wearing masks.

And of course, that doesn't take into account the hospitalizations and long lasting issues faced by the 45+ community.

All of this is to say... what is "older"? It makes for an interesting conversation, and there are going to be people all over the spectrum saying what they would or wouldn't do and what people should and shouldn't do. It isn't an easy discussion, and neither side of that equation should be outwardly dismissed.

[PonyPride]

University of Alabama now reporting more than 1,000 cases.