Point by Ronnie Williams, The Edmond Way Editorial Board
Our statistics are based on the information that we have. It’s apparent that the data is not perfect but let’s look at what we know and don’t know.
We know, by observation, that many mask wearers do not have a clue as to how to do so properly.
We understand that hospitals get paid as much as three times for a COVID-19 related death than any other death. As such, have we incentivized a death category?
We know that the CDC reported 94 percent of the (250,000+) COVID-19 related deaths had at least one other morbidity issue.
What we don’t know is the total number of COVID-19 related deaths that are actually caused by the virus. We just know that it is far less than the 250,000 plua number that has been repeatedly published.
We know that shutting down the economy brings its’ own set of problems; poverty, violence, depression and it could even bring an economic collapse. Basically the cure can be worse than the disease.
COVID-19 is like smoking; only faster. Smoking may not kill you, but it makes your body susceptible to all the other major killers. Millions of people smoke and live. Millions of people get COVID-19 and live. My 98 year-old diabetic mother falls into this category. She basically showed zero symptoms of the COVID-19 and finally tested negative on back to back tests. Same was true of my wife’s 88 year-old aunt. Some will beat the enemy, some won’t. But smoking related deaths will top 480,000 in the U.S. this year (41,000 from second hand smoke) ….and 480,000 will die next year…... and the next. Do these deaths count less than COVID-19 deaths?
Many say that we are at “war” with the virus. Well, all wars have casualties. No one wishes for anyone to die or be ill, but (by definition) it is a pandemic and the virus will run its course. I may be one of the casualties. Hope not. But one constant in life is that the tiles will be shuffled; again and again.
There are some things we can do to give ourselves better odds of riding out this storm successfully. Drop the excess weight, exercise more and improve our immune system. If you are unwilling or unable to do so, or if your are just in such a high risk category that isolation is your only option, then by all means, avoid what you can when you can. But don’t expect the rest of us to ruin our lives due to your fears; especially if you are the guy sitting on the couch drinking a soda, or a beer, and refusing to lift a finger to help yourself.
Wearing masks around others seems to slow the progression. Keep it simple, be a good neighbor. If you enter your neighbor’s house, you abide by their rules. If they do not require masks you either go in or don’t. When you enter the public space, you are entering your neighbor’s space. Act accordingly, as a good neighbor would. It only makes sense to put on a mask where appropriate and get out and enjoy the lives that we have, provide for our families and, hopefully, reap some benefit from our labors. I choose living over fear!
This article does not necessarily represent the feelings or the opinions of The Edmond Way as it is an opinion editorial