COVID-19: Can Someone Please Answer These Four Questions?

There are four COVID 19 questions gnawing at me. Does anyone out there share the same questions (concerns)??

Question 1: Nutrition, Smoking, Exercise.

I am a pretty (physically) healthy middle aged guy. Last night I had chills, felt a little hot, headache, sore throat and cough. I ate some brussel sprouts, tomatoes, onions and carrots. A lot of turmeric, black pepper, garlic, hot pepper and oregano. And a tangerine. Had some green tea, with honey and lemon. Went to bed. Feel fine now.

I know that is anecdotal information but what is not anecdotal is a defined list of foods that have a positive impact on one’s health. And, definitively, a positive impact on the host of underlying conditions that people with Corona are mostly dying from or with.

So Question 1: Why the heck is the CDC not making that defined list of foods, at the very least, as strong a recommendation during these times as a mask or gloves or six feet, which are all varying degrees of anecdotal recommendations? Why not a recommendation that we know has positive externalities? Why are cigarettes being legally sold now? Why are there not clear at-home exercise routine options posted for every age and fitness level?

How about, the CDC strongly recommends or demands we all eat, on a daily basis, at least the following:

1 bowl of dark green leafy vegetables (preferably raw)

1 carrot

1 tomato

1 cruciferous vegetable (broccoli, cauliflower, etc.)

1 orange or similar

1 apple or similar

Maybe the government can even ensure or enhance the supply of these foods like it does masks?

Is there enough room in the healthcare system for advice that does not enrich big pharma or insurance?

Question 2: Trey Hollingsworth.

Let me preface this question by saying, I know very little about Hollingsworth’s platform. In fact, I’d venture to guess I don’t agree with him on more than ten percent of his political views.

Except I can put aside politics and say to myself: “You know, he raises a very valid point.” Can you?

If you cannot, then can you tell me what the F you/we are going to do if these unemployment and GDP numbers stay the same or get worse? What the F do you plan on doing if, after the ten percent of a (shrinking) GDP bailout runs out in about two months, we need another ten percent and another and another? Uh, I’m no math major but that is not a good look for an economy.

That sounds a lot like massive unemployment, massive rent and mortgage defaults, massive runs on banks, massive homelessness and massive corporate bankruptcies. A massive and unprecedented burden on our social welfare system, including unemployment, Medicare and Medicaid. A massive burden on tax revenue. A massive deficit adding to already massive debt. It sounds a lot like global bankruptcy. Or like science fiction style armageddon.

So Question 2, in six to twelve months, becomes are we better off reducing the death rate to people over age 55 and/or with an underlying health condition, or are we better off protecting society from economic armageddon?

Even more than that, will we even be reducing the death rate in six to twelve months if it means we are in economic armageddon? Is it wrong to ask that question now, before it becomes more urgent? Is there a way to enhance protection of the at-risk group and protect all of us from economic armageddon? I bet most of the at-risk older generation would vote for that. Who doesn’t like their kids or grandkids more than themselves?

Question 3: Ventilators.

When we speak about overwhelming the healthcare system, are we not ultimately really speaking about ventilators? Something that will mitigate or resolve the ARDS complication from COVID 19?

So Question 3: Is it really such a challenge to throw immense resources at producing many more ventilators quickly? Is there no other valid substitute to ventilators that we can supplement?

Why is CDC and no one else asking about this or reporting it on a weekly basis? Yes, I know we constantly hear about how more ventilators are going to be provided, but who and how is producing them and how fast? Why not faster? Didn’t we build battleships faster than this in WW2?

Question 4: Relevant CDC Data. Weekly.

At the CDC website I continue to ask for weekly data which combines the following:

A— The number and percentage of age 55+ and the number and percentage of under age 55, with at least one underlying health condition, which CDC lists as a risk factor for COVID 19, that are going to the ICU and that are dying, due to COVID 19.

B— The converse of A. The number and percentage of ICU and death for under age 55, without an underlying risk factor.

I keep asking for this and I never get it. So Question 4: Why? Does the CDC and others not have this data? Why?

The CDC has at various times shared some underlying health condition data (link: https://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/volumes/69/wr/mm6913e2.htm ) and they regularly post age related data (link: https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/index.htm ) but never combined and linked to, apparently, two vital data points: how many of these combined groups (in Question 4, A, above) are going to the ICU and how many are dying from this horrible pandemic? What percentage of the total ICU and death rate is this combined population (age 55+ and those of any age with at least one listed underlying risk factor)?

After all, the shut down of our economy is completely based on the valid projection that our ICU healthcare system would be overwhelmed if we do not control social interaction. Should we not very clearly know who is overwhelming that system? Why is CDC telling me this is not important information? I would think it is absolutely vital that the public knows these answers.