Like the 1918 (Spanish) flu, COVID-19 may never disappear before the public.
The United States President has already released a mandate, requiring COVID-19 vaccines to some groups of people. This comes as the surge of cases, deaths, and hospitalizations continues to increase across the country.
This is despite having under 64 percent of the population receiving at least one dose of the jab. Joe Biden explained, however, that this is due to the eligible people who have yet to take the shots. This is also the reason why deemed the current crisis as a “pandemic of the unvaccinated.”
On an average note, the deaths due to the coronavirus are running at over 1,900 per day. But, experts believe that the real number is likely much higher, according to NPR.
COVID-19 death toll vs. 1918 flu death toll in the U.S.
On Monday, the COVID-19 death in the United States reached over 675,000, based on the data from Johns Hopkins University. It has since called the attention of the public because it surpassed the country’s death toll following the 1918 flu pandemic.
The flu crisis, then known as the “Spanish flu” pandemic, killed over 675,000 Americans. The figure comes from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, with reports noting that this is a “rough guess.”
As of September 21, more than 693,000 Americans have died from the novel coronavirus. Experts are also reportedly projecting a further surge come the winter season, and likely to bring the overall toll to 776,000 by January 1.
The differences between the two pandemics
CNN recently released a similar report about the latest developments in the COVID-19 pandemic. The material provides a comparison between the coronavirus and 1918 flu pandemics.
As noted, the total population in the United States has tripled since 1918. Accordingly, the flu pandemic killed a higher percentage of Americans.
Another difference between the two crises is the availability of vaccines. Back in the deadliest pandemic of the 20th century, “there was no pandemic flu vaccine.”
In addition, there has also been a “rapid spread of misinformation” today, unlike in the previous pandemic. Epidemiologist Stephen Kissler believes that this is the “biggest disadvantage” of the coronavirus crisis.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic emerged, experts and doctors have continued to debunk myths and correct misleading information on the internet. Many of them even reportedly stressed that these things are “jeopardizing public health and holding the country back.”
Overall, though, experts said that COVID-19 may never disappear, much like what happened with the 1918 flu. But, scientists reportedly hope that the virus becomes a “mild season bug” as immunity strengthens through repeated infection and vaccination. Nevertheless, this could still take time.
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