Thursday, April 2, 2020

When Things Don't Add Up



Inconvenient inconsistencies are squizzing out about the whole SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. We have some Emory prof enjoying his 15 seconds of fame with a model that shows Georgia peaks on 23 April a day which will see 84 deaths. Assuming we do as we're told so as to flatten the curve.

Then there is that whole curve thing. Based on data that are suspect to say the least. Severe screening for access to tests skews any data with a label resembling "confirmed case." What of all those cases where the high standard of symptoms is not met, yet the candidate carries, and likely transmits the virus? And which test and why? Why is the USA exclusively focused on the RT-PCR and not also performing serological testing? How can modeling be done in the absence of  broad and deep data? When we see the curve we are asked to flatten is the hockey stick a representation of actual cases or is it a representation of increased availability of tests? You might think that deaths are difficult to bury under political spin but how many have died without a conclusive RT-PCR or serological test? Very likely deaths are under reported though not as severely as infections.

Then there are those statements that when taken together, though never presented together, just do not make sense. Models showing a peak in late April with an apex just coincidentally matching hospital capacity do not align with the kudos given Ford (well deserved) for committing to 50,000 ventilators by July. A normal production profile will include a production ramp-up thru April with a majority of production (and delivery) occurring after the peak predicted by the model(s). This seems to suggest that the commonly shown bell curve is not the real profile that is expected. There is also little said about how flattening the curve extends the duration of calamity. No one is discussing what impact this has on total illness or death.

There are suggestions of recurrence when sequestering ends and we expose previously isolated populations to the remaining virus harbored in those remaining ill or simply asymptomatic. Ebola moves into animal reservoirs. Is there any reason to believe this virus will not survive beyond the immediate crisis in a natural reservoir? Based on what exactly?

We were not told the truth when we were told to not wear masks or gloves. But yet, these were important, even critical, for health care workers. Why would they only work for them and not us? They work equally well, but the "speakers of truth" wanted supplies reserved for one group and not the other. We haven't been told the truth and it isn't likely this will change anytime soon.