After nearly two years of varying degrees of shut down and a never ending daily dose of fear delivered by Mass and Social Media – how has Covid impacted Albertans? Was the collateral damage suffered by children, teens, isolated seniors and the work force a justifiable sacrifice? Did ‘we save Grandma?”
Here are some stats. Does the reality match your impression of the pandemic?
COVID STATS in ALBERTA
1. Hospitalizations and ICU Combined: 16,028 Covid patients were Hospitalized in the almost two years of Covid (March 2020 to January 2022). That is .36% of the total population. Reality Check: The total number of Covid patients were about double the daily number of patients treated in Alberta’s hospitals in 2019 (the year prior to Covid.) 400,000 patients are discharged from Alberta Hospitals each year.
2. ICU: 3049 patients or .07% of the population needed care in ICU. (Reality Check: In 2019, 24,010 patients were in ICU.)
3. Deaths: 3338 people died or .075% of the population. A distinction has not been made as to how many deaths were caused by Covid and how many deaths had Covid as a contributing, but not primary factor. That distinction is now being tracked in some jurisdictions since a growing number of patients are coming to the hospital for other treatment but are asymptomatic for Covid. Reality Check: In 2019, 26,268 Albertans died, which is .6% of the population.
4. Covid has predominantly been a disease of the elderly with existing health problems. The Average age of death was 78. 75% of Covid deaths were people over the age of 70. Though the elderly have the highest vaccination rates, they can have less robust immune systems in general.
5. Comorbidities (Exisiting Health Problems): of those who died:
82% had Hypertension (high blood pressure)
52% had Cardio-vascular disease
50% had Renal Disease
44% had Diabetes
Of those with Non-Severe Covid: 32% had one or more comorbidities.
Of those Hospitalized but not in ICU: 76% had one or more comorbidities.
Of those in ICU: 77% had one or more comorbidities.
Of those who Died: 93% had one or more comorbidiities.
6. Vaccines: Since January 1, 2020:
70% of cases were unvaccinated or less than 2 weeks from getting the first dose.
80% of hospitalizations were unvaccinated or less than 2 weeks from getting the first dose.
75% of deaths were unvaccinated or less than 2 weeks from getting the first dose.
COVID GRAPHS
7. Cases: Cases have been the key metric used to scare people. Cases do not necessarily track closely with other metrics (particularly deaths). Alberta has cut back on public testing in order to conserve PCR tests for medical professionals and high risk populations.
FURTHER READING
Omicron and the Endemic Phase Phase of Covid – Dr. Zubin Damania
Fighting COVID-19: The Heterogeneous Transmission Thesis
Amusives 