Covid, Sharks, With or From
I'm sure you've all seen the meme "Man eaten by shark dies from Coronavirus". It's making fun of the idea that everyone who dies and is then checked for the virus, will be listed as dying from the virus, no matter what. And of course the outrage follows that we are making lite of this killer virus. So I didn't take much of a stand on that point until last week. Colorado has been doing just that, and has started to change its reporting. If the coroner thinks the virus was a contributing factor to a death, he lists it as "from coronavirus", even if the guy was on his last legs anyways. If the coroner does not think the virus was a contributing factor (you got shot, hit by a car, etc.) it is listed as "with coronavirus". That being said, the numbers being reported up to the CDC don't change because of this.
One thing that is really pissing me off about the reporting is that they do not address the recoveries. Lake County health department says we now have over 6,600 cases, 215 deaths, and no reported recoveries. Cook has almost 64,000 cases, 2,900 deaths and only 247 listed recoveries. I'm not one much for conspiracy theories, but I can't help but think this is because they want to keep us afraid.
Last thing to help the old guys, of which I am one. Make sure you are taking your vitamin D. Most of us old guys are low on it. My doctor put me on a supplement 2 years ago. There is data to support the idea that those most vulnerable to catching and then dying from the virus are low on vitamin D. It's a cheap way to give yourself an edge.