COVID-19 rant time. A few days ago Trump said that 99% of cases are completely harmless. While I assume he meant survivability, those words are misleading and dangerous. So, once again, here are some facts.

• 20% of those with Coronavirus will need hospital care.
• 20% of hospital admissions will need ventilators.
• 80% of those needing critical care will DIE.
• A significant (but specifically unknown) number will have weeks, months, in theory years of potentially critical side effects once they “recover”.

Let’s breakdown the math on this. For every 1000 people, 200 will need a hospital, 40 of those 200 will need ventilators, and 32 of those 40 will die. The remaining 8, plus many of the 160 not needing ventilators will experience long term consequences and possible death. With the deaths of so many, such as actor Nick Cordero, who just died after an over 3-month long battle (most of which was after effects), it is abundantly clear that far, far less than 99% walk away just fine.

• Florida has a 15% positivity rate. Miami-Dade is past capacity in hospital beds and ventilators.
• Arizona has a 25% positivity, the nation’s highest. Phoenix is approaching full capacity. As is Houston.
• Look at the chart linked here. 11 states are among the 16 most infected places in the world. Is it any wonder that Europe doesn’t want us? https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10221366396661427&set=a.2868154034995
• Tests are becoming difficult again. In Phoenix, average reported wait time for a test was 8 hours. A day, just sitting in line.
• Younger people aren’t wearing masks because they think they’re safe, despite them catching it in droves. Older people aren’t wearing masks because they think THEY are safe, since right now more young are getting it.

This insanity and/or stupidity needs to stop. We will be closed again if we aren’t willing to he cautious. Why is this so difficult?

• Trump is urging schools be reopened. At least one governor is listening: Florida, a major epicenter. Teachers are making living wills, knowing some will die because the kids won’t keep masks on.
• A friend of mine has a child entering high school, 2 other kids entering middle school, and the friend herself is a teacher. The number of people they’ll be daily mixing with: about 5700. Nearly 6000. People. Daily. Many without masks. Maybe more.
• Another friend (religious conservative) shared a meme where a concerned patient asks her doctor how long Coronavirus will last. He responds that he doesn’t know, he doesn’t pay much attention to politics.

This is more than sad. It is disingenuous and horrifying. There is no excuse for politicizing this. For the Trump Administration to be so malfunctioning and to not even lead by example, instead encouraging supporters to flout guidelines and share memes no one is laughing at, it completely unacceptable.

Trump needs to go. If not for the hundreds of other reasons since January 20, 2017, most of which are political, then this single one of not caring less about this country’s citizens. But how many thousands more must die before everyone wakes up. Will it take your spouse? Your child? Will it take a near-death experience of your own?