Don’t downplay coronavirus infections

Dec 8, 2020
Dec 8, 2020 Updated Apr 13, 2025
4

Editor,

It didn’t take long to fact-check Dirk van Ulden’s claim about the lack of a serious health threat posed by COVID-19 in his letter, “Defying baseless restrictions,” published Tuesday as the Associated Press did it on the front page.

(4) comments

Dirk van Ulden Dec 8, 2020 8:53pm

It is kind of sad that the DJ decided to publish Mr. Dawid's letter again. As I have said before, we are now totally immure to the statistics, the avalanche of numbers that our leaders are publishing on a daily basis. What have they actually done to limit the exposures and contaminations? Open more sick beds? Nothing, as far as I can tell. More testing, more face masks and the shutting down of our local economies. This has turned out to be a rich man's issue. Those of us who can work from home are not affected but all of those in the service segment, except for those on government or quasi-government payrolls are not affected. It is exactly those latter folks, not affected income-wise, who are telling us what to do and what businesses, places of worship and playgrounds can be open or closed. Mr. Dawid, you are not considering the massive economic and health issue disasters that many of us are faced with. Remember, there are lies, darn lies and statistics.

Terence Y Dec 9, 2020 8:58am

So, Mr. Dawid, are you saying San Mateo County residents aren’t good at masks and social distancing, as compared to other states and/or the rest of America? Supposedly, we’ve been wearing masks for more than a few months, yet… as long as COVID is out there, people will get infected, masked, or not. Maybe San Mateans have a higher percentage of older folks in the high risk category and this skews the statistics.

Old San Matean Dec 9, 2020 4:04pm

Terence, I believe Mr. Dawid was saying nothing about comparing mask wearing in San Mateo County to anywhere else; rather, he was saying we have to take this seriously because ICU cases are increasing at an alarming rate. I agree with him, and although I'm very grateful to be living in San Mateo County where people DO take it seriously, many here still do not. Hence the increase.

Irvin D. Dec 9, 2020 6:18pm

Exactly!

Here's some more facts on the seriousness of the disease, and how infections result not just in hospitalizations, but as you noted, ICU cases. From the Mercury News today: "The state estimates that about 12% of new cases result in hospitalizations two to three weeks later, and 20-30% of hospitalizations eventually require an intensive care unit. By that estimate, the new cases confirmed on Monday alone could lead to an influx of more than 4,000 hospital patients and potentially another 1,000 ICU admissions in the coming weeks."

The level of transmission we are seeing now appears completely unsustainable from the ability of our hospitals to care residents who will need medical help. This is an epoch crisis.

https://www.mercurynews.com/2020/12/08/california-shatters-more-coronavirus-records-as-officials-warn-rapidly-filling-hospitals-may-be-overwhelmed/?utm_email=8419951265F6C4D904BE9424B9&g2i_eui=72kuXcgTBsnap3NvxLvhbgoI8Actzhkl&g2i_source=newsletter&utm_source=listrak&utm_medium=email&utm_term=https%3a%2f%2fwww.mercurynews.com%2f2020%2f12%2f08%2fcalifornia-shatters-more-coronavirus-records-as-officials-warn-rapidly-filling-hospitals-may-be-overwhelmed%2f&utm_campaign=bang-mult-nl-morning-report-nl&utm_content=manual

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