2022 saw much higher rates of hospitalisation, ICU admission, and deaths, with esp. the latter accruing to 93% (!) in the elderly (60+). Join me as we explore the newest data released (pt. 1)
I think the difference in severity of Omicron is due to differences in the health of the sampled population. Scandinavia is far and away from the pandemic of morbid obesity, heavy smoking and lack of exercise that is typical of the populations that have been hit harder than us.
That observation holds true when looking inside our nations here too: diabetes, hypertoni, being fat, having a generally unhealthy lifestyle wthout exercise or proper food and vitamin D deficiency: 80%+ of those dead from/with Covid had one or more severe comorbidities.
This is of course unscientific in that I have zero studies to show. On the other hand I would hazard a guess that the number of studies who individually looks at the things listed above number in the tens of thousands, as regards to general health.
And as a personal self-aggrandizing anecdote: I'm semi-retired. I am in better health and physical condition than the average 18 year old. The volunteers I meet at church (all of them 70+ save one) are all spry and healthy because they grew up being physically active to an extent which is virtually onknown for city-dwelling children born post 1980 at the latest.
It all adds up, I think. But how to measure it, well - that's too complicated for me.
I am still undecided about the severity of Omicron. Is some countries it looks worse but in the UK, unless they are fiddling with the stats, it does look more mild.
I think the difference in severity of Omicron is due to differences in the health of the sampled population. Scandinavia is far and away from the pandemic of morbid obesity, heavy smoking and lack of exercise that is typical of the populations that have been hit harder than us.
That observation holds true when looking inside our nations here too: diabetes, hypertoni, being fat, having a generally unhealthy lifestyle wthout exercise or proper food and vitamin D deficiency: 80%+ of those dead from/with Covid had one or more severe comorbidities.
This is of course unscientific in that I have zero studies to show. On the other hand I would hazard a guess that the number of studies who individually looks at the things listed above number in the tens of thousands, as regards to general health.
And as a personal self-aggrandizing anecdote: I'm semi-retired. I am in better health and physical condition than the average 18 year old. The volunteers I meet at church (all of them 70+ save one) are all spry and healthy because they grew up being physically active to an extent which is virtually onknown for city-dwelling children born post 1980 at the latest.
It all adds up, I think. But how to measure it, well - that's too complicated for me.
I am still undecided about the severity of Omicron. Is some countries it looks worse but in the UK, unless they are fiddling with the stats, it does look more mild.