COVID-19: We need to see the age demographic for those in hospitals

School openings are the current topic of discussion. The teachers and their union bosses are certain that they will all die of COVID-19, because they will be infected by their students, when the 0-18 demographic is literal Teflon, statistically insignificant as to any infections; the only deaths being of those with serious co-morbidities.

It has been shown that Denmark and Germany did not harm their population by keeping their schools open.

Norway and Sweden have ended their masking requirements. Both have ended other restrictions opening up the countries to normal life once again, subject to the EU’s travel restrictions.

South Dakota is still open for business without any mask mandates. What does Governor Kristi Noem know that our governor, Michael J. Dunleavy seems to be missing?

According to the Italian statistics, 99% of those who died were over 85 with multiple co-morbidities.

Given the number of deaths in Alaska, there is a .003% chance of death across the total population and a less than 1% chance across the 2,500 allegedly infected.

If we had the complete hospital count and age demographics, it would be shown whether or not the teachers are whining without cause.

The number of positive cases in Alaska is now approximately 2.500 rounded up. However, a positive indication on a test means what? That you have the virus in your system? Or, is that result one of 40% that are false positives meaning again, what? The 40% error rate means that out of each 100 positive results, 40 are false positives. Meaning 60 may have the virus in their system. What does that mean?

It means that if one has the virus, then of the 60 infected, 80% are asymptomatic or mildly so, not reporting to a hospital or seeking other medical care. Therefore, out of the 60, 48 have no symptoms, meaning only 12 out of that 100 might be ill to any degree.

Of the 2,500 tested positive, with the error rate that has been widely reported, 1,000 are false positives, leaving 1,500 allegedly positive cases. Of these, 80% or 1,200 will be asymptomatic or mildly so, the remaining 300 may experience some degree of discomfort.

The point is the number of active cases is meaningless in this insane world of every death is COVID-19, no matter the cause, contaminated test kits, and error rates of 40% in testing. Even in Alaska, at least 4 or more reported COVID-19 deaths are known to be in that category–a heart attack, a cancer death, and 2 deaths out of state. It is reported that the latest COVID-19 death in Alaska was over 60 with multiple co-morbidities. What did that person really die of?

However, there is a measure that would have some degree of meaning and may dispel the fear in the minds of so many these days. What’s missing in the state’s figures each week are the age demographics of those in the hospital allegedly infected with COVID-19.

The number of people in the hospitals is reported as 37. This gives a hospitalization rate of 1.5% against the alleged 2,500 cases. Against the 730,000 Alaska population, the rate is .005%. However, we don’t know the age groups hospitalized. Why is that?

Surely the governor, Dr. Anne Zink and Commissioner Crum can see the value of having such information available to the public, to dispel fear by presenting a complete picture to the public?

Time and again we hear of people of all ages being hospitalized with COVID-19. Yet the age demographics is always missing. That information needs to be made available in the state’s weekly reports.

At present, the reported number of deaths is 23, out of 730,000 Alaskans, giving a death rate of .003% of the total population; and .92% of the 2,500 allegedly diagnosed with COVID-19.

The measure of those in the hospital with the age demographics will either confirm or dispel the myth of all ages being hospitalized in significant numbers.

The governor, Dr. Zink, the governor’s Oracle in a Yurt, and Commissioner Adam Crum should be doing all that they can to allay the public’s fear, instead of reinforcing fear with innuendo, conjecture and misrepresentations through incomplete information that reinforces misunderstandings on the part of the public. The age demographic of those in the hospitals in Alaska should be required and made available to the Alaska Department of Health and Social Services and to appear in any information presentation.

Otherwise, fear and misrepresentation will continue to be used to justify unwarranted restrictions, to delay the end to this pandemic response, and to delay unreasonably reopening Alaska’s schools.