NOTES:  COVID-19: DO THE NUMBERS JUSTIFY STOPPING THE WORLD

• Evidence shows COVID-19 can severely affect the elderly and immune compromised, but the risk to vast majority of population, so far has been minimal. Death rates from COVID-19 still in line with a bad flu season – death rate is about 0.1% of those infected. 95-98% of the infected recover without any consequences.
• We have had epidemics before: The 1918 “Spanish Flu” epidemic killed up to 50 million people. In 1957-58, an Asian avian flu killed an estimated 1.1 million. In 1968 the Hongkong flu killed about 1 million people. On average flu kills 220,000 to 650,000 people a year worldwide. The SARS-1 virus of 2003 killed only 774 people globally.
• COVID-19 the disease caused by SARS-cov-2 has killed approximately 220,000 people globally (May 2^nd). Accurate infection rates not known, many infected show mild or no symptoms. Approximately 98% of those exposed to the virus have totally recovered.
• Origins and predictions: The first outbreak: Wuhan, China, November 2019. Wuhan is a city of 11 million people. China initiated full lockdown of Wuhan and surrounding urban areas and limited travel. China reported 4,633 deaths. Predictions by Imperial College, London: 500,000 deaths in the UK. Revised down to 200,000 and then 20,000. Similar predictions were made in the USA by Institute of Heath Metrics and Evaluation. Global lockdown strategy implemented.
• Opposing opinions: Many experts have challenged this narrative, stating modelling models far too pessimistic and responsible for dramatic overreaction by many countries. Article in The Spectator, UK, March 28^th challenged the accuracy of data being collected.

Dr Tom Jefferson of Oxford University, member of Cochrane Collaboration and world expert on flu related disease said in the British Medical Journal, “There does not seem to be anything special about this particular epidemic of influenza-like illness”.

• Who is influencing the current situation and the focus on a vaccine as the solution?

Dr Anthony Fauci, currently the US government spokesperson on the crisis is working closely with Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) – both supporting World Health Organization (WHO) strategy. BMGF second largest donor to the WHO, heavily invested in organizations like Global Vaccine Alliance (GAVI) and Coalition for Epidemic Prevention Innovations (CEPI). Both heavily invested in vaccine companies looking for COVID-19 vaccine. Fauci and Gates have stated lockdown should stay until a vaccine found, even though may take 18 months and no vaccine for corona virus ever been successfully made. Timeline disputed by many vaccine experts. Gates suggests vaccine should be given to entire world’s population, via mandatory vaccines laws with limits on travel and movement for anyone not vaccinated.

• How has Bill Gates become so influential? His organization funnelled billions of dollars into all forms of medical research, with heavy influence on vaccine and drug research. Many of the people making government policy on COVID-19 have been funded by BMGF. Questions about his influence and “Philanthrocapitalism”.
• How has humanity made it so far? Humans have evolved sophisticated immune systems. Exposure to pathogens like bacteria and viruses from birth, strengthens the immune system.

Natural immunity is best type of immunity, lasts longer than artificial immunity achieved through vaccination. Governments focused on suppressing the virus, which history has shown is very hard to do. Developing natural herd immunity via exposure of healthy people tends to work better. Plan to vaccinate the world’s population – vaccine does not exist and may not be safe. Natural methods of stimulating the immune system: Vitamin C, Vitamin D3, Selenium and Zinc have proven effects in supporting body to fight infections. These are not being promoted by most governments and were declared Fake News in the UK.

• Why are we so afraid? Human history is full of times when epidemics ravaged countries – built into our DNA. However, it’s important to put that fear into perspective – instilling too much fear and keeping people under house arrest may suppress immune system needed to combat the threat of the virus. Therefore, lockdown may be making COVID-19 worse.
• What should we do now? Growing evidence suggests worst is over and to mitigate profound social and economic impact of the lockdown strategy best to reverse it and allow people back to normal lives, while protecting the most vulnerable members of the community. Extending lockdown likely to make matters much worse, and ultimately kill more people than virus.

(There’s an indepth piece about the numbers in our Indepth section.)