You jokers forget to read the OP, where it is shown that the numbers were way too high from the start, and might wind up being less that 2017-18.
The fake CV death numbers will be like candle light against the sun when compared with millions who die because of the economy shutting down.
The actual numbers are lower than the confirmed numbers? No way. There's evidence to suggest that coronavirus was propagating throughout the U.S. in Washington weeks, maybe even months, prior to the first confirmed case when a researcher took swaps of flu patients and tested them for coronavirus.
https://www.businessinsider.com/seattle-flu-study-coronavirus-testing-washington-2020-3But according to The Times, officials consistently rejected the idea on public health and privacy grounds, even as the spread continued throughout the state. Officials also said the study did not have explicit permission from its subjects to use their samples for coronavirus testing, and the study was not certified for clinical testing.
In late February, Chu began testing the study's participants for coronavirus without government approval, which confirmed at least one positive case, The Times said.
"It must have been here this entire time," Chu told The Times. "It's just everywhere already."
As of Tuesday, Washington has confirmed 267 cases of the virus and 24 deaths. King County, where Seattle is located, has recorded over 190 cases of the virus and 22 of the deaths. Washington Gov. Jay Inslee declared a state of emergency on February 29 to tackle the outbreak.
The Seattle Flu Study is funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, which announced on Monday that it is supporting at-home coronavirus test kits to those at risk in the Seattle area. The foundation also pledged $100 million last month to fight the coronavirus outbreak.
The FDA and the CDC did not immediately respond to Business Insider's request for comment.
Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the CDC, told The Times that although there were issues with testing in the beginning, there is still time to curb the outbreak in the US. "It's going to take rigorous, aggressive public health — what I like to say, block and tackle, block and tackle, block and tackle, block and tackle," he said. "That means if you find a new case, you isolate it."
The FDA told The Times that it provided emergency authorization for two lab-developed coronavirus tests within 24 hours of their completed submission, disputing that it has moved too slowly with testing.
TL;DR - Researcher had tested flu swaps originally gathered for an influenza study that turned out to test positive for corona weeks prior to the massive surge in cases in Washington.
So, shutting down the economy was necessary to stop the spread but prolonging the shutdown economy is not a good move. Opening up as soon as possible with young and healthy people returning to the workforce is what should happen first. People most vulnerable should continue to stay isolated.