This narrative is wrong and easy to prove so. Total "deaths above average" (which eliminates any bias as to how deaths are categorized) is far higher during Covid19 than during H1N1 in 2018. And that higher death total is WITH the unprecedented global shutdown that was instituted. We can't know what total deaths would be without the shut-down, but can we agree it would have been higher, probably significantly higher?
Comparing the two also does not take into account the growing evidence of significant issues for those who do not die, or even require hospitalization but are currently struggling with very difficult issues.
Even with improved treatment and an ongoing reduction of the overall mortality rate, we are growing the topline number at an increasing rate and taking limited action to reduce that. To be clear, I am not a proponent of shutting everything down again. But to underplay the challenge we are still facing is just stupid.
I said back in late April we were still in the first inning and was roundly mocked by some on here. Well, we are maybe in the second or third inning and have good reason to believe this fall/winter could pose a huge threat. Let's try and treat it as such.
https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm
