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Windy City Charlie

(1,178 posts)

14. Not to compare COVID-19 to the Flu...

Reply to Botany (Original post)

Sun Mar 15, 2020, 12:51 PM

Mar 2020

But what you're trying to do is have COVID-19 have the same impact on the health care system as what a normal flu season is, so that the health care system can keep up with the demand. In other words, if you had the number of flu cases in the short period of time that COVID-19 could have without flattening the curve, there's no way the health care system could handle that. Yet the COVID-19 cases are expected to be much worse even during a much less period of time. It's about making sure the health care system can sustain itself, not only with COVID-19 cases, but with other conditions as well.

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Highlight:

Flattening the Curve question for Stats/Math Nerds [View all] Botany Mar 2020 OP

It can accomplish both lower peak demand and fewer infections PSPS Mar 2020 #1

This message was self-deleted by its author bearsfootball516 Mar 2020 #2

Yes, but it keeps the peak lower. RichardRay Mar 2020 #3

The point of flattening the curve Salviati Mar 2020 #4

The concept of flattening the curve is to reduce the rate but not the overall number... Girard442 Mar 2020 #5

Pretty close--and that's a very good thing. AleksS Mar 2020 #6

Here's a way to think about it... CincyDem Mar 2020 #7

Nice analogy! cos dem Mar 2020 #11

Haha. Yeah. Once you try the gallon challenge... CincyDem Mar 2020 #19

Why does this put me in mind of colonoscopy prep? misanthrope Mar 2020 #22

Having done both, trust me...the colonoscopy prep is much easier. Lol. n/t CincyDem Mar 2020 #24

Basically, yes. cos dem Mar 2020 #8

Yes. That's the point. jberryhill Mar 2020 #9

To address an underlying point we don't have unfettered testing so we don't know how long... uponit7771 Mar 2020 #10

this is a pretty comprehensive explaination Takket Mar 2020 #12

Was able to tease a simulation off their site BumRushDaShow Mar 2020 #16

Thank you Botany Mar 2020 #17

If the curve flattens out enough, we make get a vaccine before some people get sick. Jim__ Mar 2020 #13

Not to compare COVID-19 to the Flu... Windy City Charlie Mar 2020 #14

And as an aside, Igel Mar 2020 #23

One helpful side effect may also be reducing the number of cases and fatalities Ms. Toad Mar 2020 #15

Yes, but... Drahthaardogs Mar 2020 #18

Yes. Flattening the curve is about preventing deaths, not total cases, over time. RockRaven Mar 2020 #20

Just spitballing.... Brainfodder Mar 2020 #21