COVID-19 General Info

1.1.1.  What is COVID-19?  COVID-19, which is short for “coronavirus disease 2019,” is a respiratory illness caused by the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). What exactly does SARS-Cov-2 do to the body?  This doctor explains it pretty well in a video.

1.1.2.  What is a coronavirus?  A coronavirus is a type of virus, so-named because the outer layer of the virus is covered with spike proteins that resemble a crown (“corona” means “crown”).

1.1.3.  Where did COVID-19 come from?  The SARS-CoV-2 virus was initially claimed to have originated from a “wet market” (a place for selling wild animals for meat) in Wuhan, China.  However, extensive evidence points to the Wuhan Insitute of Virology. The WSJ cites 4 studies (including 2 from WHO) demonstrating such evidence.

1.1.4.  How many Americans have contracted COVID-19?  The CDC has reported a total of 42,501,643 cases of COVID-19 in the US.*  Keep in mind that the number of cases of COVID-19 that have not been reported (due to lack of symptoms), is most assuredly higher, since the CDC encourages people to get tested only if they have symptoms.  One study in Italy found that over 40% of confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infections were asymptomatic.  *Current as of 24 Sep 21.

1.1.5.  How many Americans have died from COVID-19?  According to the CDC, 680,688 “COVID-19 deaths” have occurred.*  Exactly what constitutes a “COVID-19 death” is a hot topic, with the big question being who gets counted:  people who die from COVID-19, or with COVID-19?  *Current as of 24 Sep 21.

1.1.6.  What is the COVID-19 mortality rate?  If we go with the numbers listed above, there is a 1.6% mortality rate for COVID-19 in the U.S.  That means for every 10 people who get COVID-19, less than 2 will die and more than 8 will survive.  Keep in mind, this mortality rate is most likely based on underreported case numbers and overreported deaths.  It is highly probable that the COVID-19 mortality rate is much lower than 1.6%.

1.1.7.  Who is most affected by COVID-19?  The elderly population is affected the most by COVID-19.  In fact, 94.3% of all COVID deaths occurred in patients aged 50 or greater (633,784 out of 672,021).*  Only 464 patients aged 0-17 years old have died from COVID-19.*  *Current as of 29 Sep 21.

1.1.8.  How is COVID-19 identified?  Two types of tests are usually used to identify COVID-19, a PCR test and an antigen test.  The accuracy of these tests “vary considerably.”  Interestingly, the 2020-2021 flu season was “unusually low.”