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A fiasco in the making? As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data

A nurse holds swabs and a test tube to test people for Covid-19 at a drive-through station set up in the parking lot of the Beaumont Hospital in Royal Oak, Mich. PHOTO: STAT News/Paul Sancya/AP

By John P.A. Ioannidis | 17 March 2020

STAT NEWS — The current coronavirus disease, Covid-19, has been called a once-in-a-century pandemic. But it may also be a once-in-a-century evidence fiasco.

At a time when everyone needs better information, from disease modelers and governments to people quarantined or just social distancing, we lack reliable evidence on how many people have been infected with SARS-CoV-2 or who continue to become infected. Better information is needed to guide decisions and actions of monumental significance and to monitor their impact.

Draconian countermeasures have been adopted in many countries. If the pandemic dissipates — either on its own or because of these measures — short-term extreme social distancing and lockdowns may be bearable. How long, though, should measures like these be continued if the pandemic churns across the globe unabated? How can policymakers tell if they are doing more good than harm? […]

4 Comments on A fiasco in the making? As the coronavirus pandemic takes hold, we are making decisions without reliable data

  1. Of particular interest to Torchy Blane.
    I first heard of this theory on Jim Stones blog, but I must say it made perfect sense to me: Did the Coronavirus originate in America?; were the first deaths in America?; Were the Vaping deaths actually Coronavirus deaths;
    https://www.globalresearch.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Screen-Shot-2020-03-11-at-10.29.57-PM.png
    https://www.globalresearch.ca/covid-19-further-evidence-virus-originated-us/5706078

    • “The Taiwanese physician noted that in August of 2019 the US had a flurry of lung pneumonias or similar, which the Americans blamed on ‘vaping’ from e-cigarettes, but which, according to the scientist, the symptoms and conditions could not be explained by e-cigarettes. He said he wrote to the US officials telling them he suspected those deaths were likely due to the coronavirus. He claims his warnings were ignored.”
      https://www.globalresearch.ca/covid-19-further-evidence-virus-originated-us/5706078

  2. Thanks for thinking of me. I don’t trust Global Research as a source for anything, however — especially when it’s using NY Slimes as its sources to boot. The vaping illnesses/deaths were due to knockoff/fake “black market” brand name vape/THC liquids from China that contained hazardous chemicals. Once they figured the issue and cleared the products from shelves, the problem abruptly ended.

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