Overdoses and Suicides Outpace COVID-19 Deaths in the Emerald Counties
Mendocino, Humboldt, and Trinity Counties have been in the grips of the coronavirus pandemic since March, and the three have lost a total of 52 residents to COVID-19. Compounding the tragedy, 99 residents of the Emerald Counties have also succumbed to overdoses, and 63 have committed suicide.
Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall characterized the overwhelming majority of these losses as “preventable deaths.” He described a “preventable death” as a death in which the circumstances could have been avoided.
Using Sheriff Kendall’s working definition, deaths from COVID-19, overdoses, suicides, and homicides could be characterized as “preventable deaths.”
Collaborating with Trinity County Sheriff Tim Saxon, Humboldt County Sheriff’s Public Information Officer Samantha Karges, and Sheriff Kendall, data regarding the last three years worth of preventable deaths was gathered and analyzed for trends.
Garnering data from each Emerald County provides insight into each county’s relationship with preventable deaths. Mendocino County has seen a steady increase in both suicides and overdoses since 2018. Trinity County has also seen a rise in overdoses but has not experienced an increase in suicides. In contrast to Mendocino and Trinity, Humboldt County overdose deaths have decreased from last year, with 2019’s 72 deaths outpacing this year’s 51.
Comparing the four identified forms of preventable death reveals that overdoses and suicides surpass COVID-19 in total avoidable deaths.
Sheriff Kendall provided another metric that provided insight into a rise in preventable deaths: coroner investigations. He explained that coroners are tasked with investigating all “unexpected deaths,” and the average year has “about 300 cases.” In 2020, Mendocino County Sheriff Coroners investigated 461 unexpected deaths.
On December 17, 2020, the Center for Disease Control issued an advisory alerting the public to the “substantial increases in drug overdose deaths across the United States, primarily driven by rapid increases in overdose deaths involving… illicitly manufactured fentanyl.” The CDC found a “concerning acceleration” of overdose deaths was documented between March and May 2020, coinciding with “the implementation of widespread mitigation measures for the COVID-19 pandemic.”
Mendocino County Sheriff Matt Kendall spoke to the local rise of fentanyl and its role in the dramatic upswingrise in overdoses compared to years past. In a message to residents he published on Facebook, he said, “I fear overdoses will increase, and we may see more unintended exposures to the drug, to persons who are helping victims.”
Sheriff Kendall expressed gratitude for Mendocino County Public Health and its provision of Narcan to sheriff deputies, a drug that reverses the effects of opioid overdoses. He said that there would have been at least 12 more overdose deaths in the county without the life-saving drug.
Sheriff Kendall explained how coroner investigators could differentiate between suicide and an overdose. He said that a suicidal individual would often leave behind a note or communicate with someone their intentions. A tell-tale sign of a fatal accidental overdose is a small amount of drugs left over the user had intended to consume later but never did, Kendall explained.
In a September presentation to the Board of Supervisors, Mendocino County’s Behavioral Health Director Doctor Jenine Miller spoke to a mantra of mental anguish she had heard from residents: “We may be surviving, but we are no longer living.” Dr. Miller asserted that as the community navigates the COVID-19 pandemic, a mental health pandemic has been brewing.
Mendocino County Public Health Officer Doctor Andy Coren addressed the rise in overdoses and suicides in Mendocino County: “We have lost 26 lives in our community to COVID-19, and we have also lost several other valuable lives to this pandemic due to suicide and overdose.”
Dr. Coren emphasized the importance of not pitting one form of preventable death against others:
We never want to disregard one tragedy when we attempt to address the other. Public Health is extremely concerned about both trends and it is Public Health’s job to are focus specifically on giving the public we serve the tools they need to slow the spread of COVID-19, while we also work very closely with Mendocino County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, who is working hard to give the public the tools they need to address depression and substance abuse during these unprecedented times.
Dr. Coren explained that Public Health and Behavioral Health work together to “provide comprehensive assistance and guidance to tackle both of these issues together.”
In a call to action, Dr. Coren insisted that residents “ pay special attention to our loved ones’ and to our own emotional wellbeing. Send a text, make a call, have dinner with a friend over video chat.”
Dr. Coren reminded Mendocino County residents that, “if you or someone you love is having a difficult time, please call Behavioral Health’s free Warm Line at (707) 472-2311 to speak with a certified counselor, or to be connected with additional resources.”
For any Humboldt County resident in emotional pain, the county’s Behavioral Health department encourages you to call the Peer-Run Warm Line at 1-855-845-7415 for non-emergency emotional support.
For Trinity County residents, please reach out to Behavioral Services 24-Hour Crisis Services to seek help by calling (530) 623-5708.
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A very well done article concerning the elephant in the room.
Thanks Matt. ?
This is evidence that social distancing, masking and business closures worked. If we had the covid death rates of less-prepated states, our numbers would been 4 times worse and Death by Covid would have been far and away the biggest killer in the tri-county area.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109011/coronavirus-covid19-death-rates-us-by-state/
“This is evidence that social distancing, masking and business closures worked.”
LOL! That is hilarious. California has had some of the strictest mask/lockdown policies in the country and now has the worst epidemic of cases and your conclusion is that it worked! Florida, who is basically wide open, is doing better and your conclusion is that lockdowns work! It’s Orwellian. No amount of contradictory evidence in the world will change your mind. Hence my incessant quip “liberalism is a mental disorder”.
California also has a higher percentage of quacks.
Come to Trinity and look at the anti-mask store owners.
Look at you and 1911 and Ullr: “masks are not necessary”.
Go to Redding and watch for 1 hour any grocery store, or try the most progressive supermarket; Holiday, and see how many are maskless upon entry.
Mandates and compliance are two different things.
Look at Wuhan: No mask necessary for new years eve celebrations.
They are done with Covid because they dealt with it proper and authorities didn’t let the loonies ruin it for everyone else.
…And Trinity’s deaths are “spiking” because of it? Redding’s too?
Don’t think so.
Hey, I’d like to be included with rollin’,1911 and Ullr. ?
Shasta county has twice the positive rate of Humboldt and FOUR TIMES as many dead.
Perspective Geist: Number of “cases” is directly related to number of “tests”.
How many people have been tested in Shasta County? 115k!!
How many people have been tested in Humboldt? 9K.
Of course Shasta will have more “cases” and by association, “deaths”. See?
Fwiw, “cases” in Shasta are decreasing. And fatality rate is about .04%.
Nope. 78 dead out of 8,000 cases is a fatality rate of almost 1%.
https://www.google.com/search?client=ms-android-verizon&sxsrf=ALeKk00Jtxsrvq45rDniUdMfIKTNhLxzxg%3A1609696642635&ei=ggXyX9GXJszD0PEP2b2mgAk&q=ca+covid+by+county&oq=ca+covid+&gs_lcp=ChNtb2JpbGUtZ3dzLXdpei1zZXJwEAEYADIHCAAQyQMQQzICCAAyBwgAEBQQhwIyBQgAELEDMgUIABCxAzIFCAAQsQMyAggAMgIIADoECAAQRzoECCMQJzoFCAAQyQM6BQghEKABOgcIIxDqAhAnOgQIABBDOgUIABCRAjoHCAAQsQMQQzoKCAAQxwEQrwEQQzoKCAAQsQMQyQMQQzoICAAQsQMQgwE6CwgAELEDEMcBEKMCOgoIABCxAxAUEIcCOg0IABCxAxDJAxAUEIcCUPMTWLRLYLNQaAJwAXgEgAG5A4gBlSqSAQowLjIyLjQuMi4xmAEAoAEBsAEPyAEIwAEB&sclient=mobile-gws-wiz-serp
Humboldt has tested over 56 k. Where did you come up with 9 k?
You are correct Skitty. Apologies. The 9k I posted was [obviously] outdated(July). It is indeed 56k.
I think the point still stands?
I don’t think that would be considered an accurate number Geist but it depends. Fatality rate per “case” or per capita? “Case” is flimsy at best for obvious reasons.
Florida is NOT “wide open.” Every major metropolitan area and most counties have masking requirements.
https://floridapolitics.com/archives/342364-beyond-the-veil-what-face-mask-requirements-are-in-place-in-florida
Florida also has a death rate nearly twice as bad as California.
https://www.statista.com/statistics/1109011/coronavirus-covid19-death-rates-us-by-state/
Now that its clear you were wrong about everything, are you going to reconsider your dumb position?
Actually CA has had less cases and deaths per population than Florida. Now the 7 day average for CA is higher recently, but since March Florida is not doing better.
Huh, you dont say? This is exactly the kind of thing that I was referring to the other day. The overall detriment of the shutdown vs the loss of life from Covid 19.
Weak economy, poverty, homelessness, suicide and %1-%2 viral death by shutdown vs. strong economy and %1-%2 viral death without. Which is worse?
We cant hide from this virus, it’s coming, its here. Boost your immune system and keep your mentality positive!!
A 2% mortality rate would mean 6+ million dead in the US. That’s not going to be very good for the economy or anything else.
The only elephant in the room is that the “covid is the flu” people only read headlines and definitely don’t read charts.
You all have been claiming that 2020 has caused countless additional deaths by overdose, suicide, the “lockdown”…
Yet the total number of OD deaths in Humboldt this year is lower than then previous two years! Homicides in Humboldt and Trinity are basically unchanged and Mendocino had *four less homicides* this year.
Only Mendocino has more suicides this year than previous years. Once again, 2018 and 2019 were deadlier years in Humboldt and Trinity.
So much for the “lockdown is killing people” narrative…
“But!….But we cant get our nails done!!!!”
The elephant in the room DQ is all those other pesky pandemics that have been put out to pasture so that we can all focus on a “maybe”. This isn’t just limited to od’s, homocides etc. It runs the full gamut.
They ARE real.
The article would be much improved, imo, by showing per-capita deaths, rather than totals, since Humboldt has almost twice the population of Mendocino.
Keep panicking about covid ,cause the drug scene is getting better everyday. Humboldt has a pandemic, but its not COVID-19.
Who’s panicking? Seriously I see it suggested the people are terrified or panicking over covet regularly, yet I’ve never actually seen any indication that anyone is panicking or terrified.
Fear panic and terror are in no way required to take reasonable precautions in the face of a threat.
It’s weird and twisted, but Lone Ranger is really really fearful of fear.
It’s a vicious cycle.
We see you
How do I look?
Lol
hmm: “in the face of a threat”. And no other real health issues are a threat? Just this particular “maybe”?
And the fear thing…..why do you consider this possible virus to be such a “threat”?
Not everyone does.
(Oh come on, I know, those of us that don’t are responsible for killing everybody? or “tell that to the families of the 300k..”) ?
Communist and other (mal aligned against their citizens)
governments have their own teams to enforce the party line.
Let’s not forget how people were lulled into complacency in the past.
Whats with anger? New years not pan out? Sorry, maybe next year you’ll do better.
I see people everyday, in their car alone with a mask on. Please explain how this isn’t panic. A 10pm curfew, definitely more panic. People buy up all toilet paper, panic anyone, yeah ,I don’t see any people panicking. Talk about denial
One possible reason people drive with a mask is that they are going to pick someone up or they just dropped someone off.
It’s not panic necessarily, it could be consideration for others or precaution.
Some people just can’t understand that.
Sometimes you forget it’s on. You may not want to touch the mask in case you are concerned about contracting it from touching your face too often. You’re on your way to pick somebody up and you want to be careful. Etc. Etc. Etc.
I have allergies and have worn a mask when driving in my car, and have done so for years. Nobody elses business about when or where I choose to wear a mask. I’ve also been wearing a mask around others since April, as I care about others. Too many folks spend too much time watching others, making judgements instead of using common sense.
Too funny, those three responses or excuses say it all.
I like to honk at them and then point and laugh, so they know at least one person thinks they are idiots.
Not to mention endangering everyone – https://www.insurancepanda.com/15889/wearing-a-mask-while-driving/
Did you actually bother FOLLOWING the link that supposedly cites a CDC report advising drivers not to wear masks? It say a NOTHING of the sort!
https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/daily-life-coping/using-transportation.html
“Insurance Panda” for whatever reason is just straight up lying to you. You’re the one acting like an idiot, listening to a crooked cartoon insurence broker without bothering to read their sources.
Is this a case of the “cure” being worse than the disease?
Yes, absolutely. It’s also a case of the press and institutions severely misleading the public, to an extent I consider criminal. We have known since the spring that risk for complications and death from the new coronavirus is associated with vitamin-D deficiency. Get proper sunlight and eat foods high in vitamin-D and you will be fine.
The “pandemic” is the most over-hyped load that has been sold to any of us in recent memory. A simple cursory glance at flu/influenza rates for the year proves that “Covid-19” is basically just this year’s flu, in a new container that people with compromised immune systems may struggle with. Despite the widespread ill-health of the public, it’s still not worse than a bad flu season. Meanwhile, we have been tricked into destroying the very fabric of our entire society. One might conclude that was the goal the entire time.
“The “pandemic” is the most over-hyped load that has been sold to any of us in recent memory.”
Repeating this over and over again isn’t going to make it true.
“Meanwhile, we have been tricked into destroying the very fabric of our entire society.”
That’s cartoonish hyperbole. What kind of metric would you use to make this kind of argument? Have you even thought about what it would require to make this kind of wild statement convincing?
“Get proper sunlight and eat foods high in vitamin-D and you will be fine.”
Do you sell Herbalife or something? Be honest.
Dear Reader -Are you expecting people to believe that the whole world agreed to destroy the fabric of society as a goal? That’s just goofy logic. All of the countries of the globe will never agree to cooperate on anything. And the COVID-19 pandemic has casualties in each and every country regardless of politics or religion, wealth or poverty.
DQ, you and Voice of Reason are incorrigible.
For many years there indeed has been a global-wide restructuring plan in place. But I won’t bore you with the details. It just needed a…….spark.
Give it some time to come into your sphere.
Now we need to know how many people are flattened by crossing the street.
Ernie,
Since you mentioned it, I drove through Eureka and going up 5th St
We encountered two individuals who just bolted out jaywalking across all three lanes from behind parked cars, with obvious disregard for their own safety.
Had to come to a complete stop both times.
These people are completely nuts.
I have been offended in the past by the description of this phenomenon as “Frogger”, when a fatality occurs.
But it is actually pretty accurate.
I’m sure in some of these many incidents there is driver culpability.
However,
if I had to avoid two individuals in just one pass through downtown, it’s understandable accidents occur so often.
We actually saw the person with the walker crossing on fourth that was killed recently, but I believe it may have happened on a subsequent attempt.
It’s not like I go through Eureka that often.
It’s pretty bizarre behavior for being as common as it is.
I’ve seen that too, and it is bizzare.
A little off topic from the article, but:
This doesn’t explain the attitude, but regarding “frogger” behavior, the current street design in Eureka lends itself to pedestrian fatalities. (especially the north end) I actively look for pedestrians, but the way some of the blocks are (especially when a car is parked there)- you just can’t see them waiting to cross until it’s too late to stop without the person behind you rear-ending you. I imagine some folks get pretty fed up knowing that no one is going to stop to let them cross the street, so they just go and expect vehicles to stop for them. It sounds like Eureka is in the planning stages of making some improvements on the street design issue, so hopefully that gets better.
With that said, a few winters ago I saw folks in dark clothes literally dancing around traffic in the dark at the light to go up Harris street. The light was green, cars were moving and so were they. The best flashing crosswalks in the world aren’t fixing that.
Looks like 2018 was a really bad year. (If I’m reading that right).
That’s what I’m noticing too- Humboldt and Trinity county aren’t showing an increase in these preventable deaths overall. What’s going on with the upward trend in suicides/OD’s for Mendocino over the last three years?
These graphs are really interesting but did they publish anything beyond this (like a journal article), or just the graphs? Without having any further context, these graphs don’t appear to indicate an upward trend in preventable deaths due to COVID. (aside from people actually dying of COVID itself of course.)
Why has Newsom’s administration only administered 20% of the covid vaccine the federal government delivered to California?
Because polise had him send the rest to china
Got ANY PROOF, of that so called fact, or a link to somewhere supporting that claim???
Of course not.
What is Newsom saving the other 80% for and where is it? Did he rathole it for his well connected elite friends?
Why don’t you peruse Parler, Infowars, FOX or any number of conspiracy bullshit sites, I’m sure you’ll find a conspiracy that satisfies your suspicions.
You expect it to be distributed and completely given within 2weeks?
P.S. I’m sure Newsom and all his “elitist “ pals have already got theirs, why would they save 80% for themselves? Seriously?
I think they meant Pelosi.
Nationally. By far. No comparison. Liberals lost their regulatory control to destroy small business through environmental scams so they’re throwing their last hail marry. Total scam. Complete shame.
Meanwhile, McConnel refuses to up the checks from 600.00 , he acts like the money is coming out of his pun bank account. I say there should be an investigation into how Mitch McConell, Lindsey Graham and Ted Cruze won their states races considering they do nothing for their constituents. Oh yeah, Republicans don’t care as long as they’re “sticking it to the Libs”.
10 of the 25 Poorest Counties in the US are in Mitch McConnels State. Hes a pure corporate shill.
Liberals =Big Business?
Hahah hahaaaaa
And how about that huge tax break for the rich that The Republicans did? Of course that doesn’t affect anything. Liberals= big business?
That’s hilarious. And you’re blaming environmental regulations? Don’t you just love that epic deficit the “Fiscally Conservative “ Republicans created? But hey, Liberal environmental regulations are “ruining” small business. Yeah sure……
Looks like we should outlaw Heroin and Meth… Just crazy thinking . Maybe we could gather all the dirty needles around and dump them at HACHR for the exchange program. Just tryin to help.
Or at HACHR director’s house. Maybe some for the city council that votes to give needles to Junkies need some.. They need help not needles. And please stop feeding the Junkies Betty.
Great article by Matt, lots of stats to digest.
Most drug overdose deaths are the result of suicidal behavior.
Some of the murders are the result of suicidal behavior (putting yourself in a situation where extreme violence is not unusual).
It adds up to a lot of people who just don’t care that much if they live or die.
This was an interesting article for sure, thanks Matt.
I really appreciated this:
Dr. Coren emphasized the importance of not pitting one form of preventable death against others:
We never want to disregard one tragedy when we attempt to address the other. Public Health is extremely concerned about both trends and it is Public Health’s job to are focus specifically on giving the public we serve the tools they need to slow the spread of COVID-19, while we also work very closely with Mendocino County Behavioral Health & Recovery Services, who is working hard to give the public the tools they need to address depression and substance abuse during these unprecedented times.
Unfortunately as we can already see, our regular SUPER TRUTH SLEUTHER GROUPies are already doing just that.
162 deaths not caused by Covid. Three timed as many. No one gives a shit. Destroy the economy, put many on the cusp of eviction, many livelihoods diminished to “protect” a very few high risk, mostly white elderly individuals, POC screwed by lack of access to medical care and trust of the system. Politicians (Mr. Huffman most publicized) get immunized, the rest of us wait, total and utter bullshit. POLITICS. Our “Politicians” should ALL be ashamed of themselves.
An apples to oranges comparison. Minimizes the severity of Covid19 in the Emerald Triangle.
Or well, perhaps magnifying the incidence of preventable deaths?
“Outpaces” is the operable word here.
Why?
Is it a horse race?
“Preventable Deaths” had a significant head start if your comparing their respective “Pace”.
Like two or three months!
Comparing a calendar year to a partial year is misleading, and frankly very inaccurate.
“Preventable Deaths” began the year, “race”, or “contest”, “running” at full speed.
However,
Covid19 started at a stand still 25 or so percent later, yet has possibly not come close to full speed.
Do not underestimate it yet, to be fair it still has three months to run before anyone stops the clock on Covid19.
Given three more months, or whatever equals an equivalent year comparison, it will almost surely equal, if not certainly surpass, suicide deaths alone.
Probably just as likely to approach or surpass OD’s.
Also, if given three more months….
Maybe even surpassing both causes combined.
If you compare the pace of Covid19 in a context of something besides in it’s infancy or adolescence it would be a completely different story.
Matt should multiply the last six months of Covid19 deaths by two, the last three months multiplied by four, last two by six, and/ or December’s Covid19 deaths by twelve.
It would be a completely story, albeit much more, well, accurate.
Covid19 deaths could easily keep accelerating rapidly for the foreseeable future.
Sensationalist journalism is one thing.
That’s the fear factor. Sells papers.
Journalism which suggests a false sense of security, on the other hand,
can be dangerous.
Lulling people into complacency by a suggestion, or them concluding, that they are more likely to die of suicide or OD, (both causes one would have control over), than Covid19, is risky at best.
I hope by bringing up the “race” card, I won’t be considered a racist.
It’s not a race, and Covid19 is surely not slowing down.
Don’t be fooled by something poorly worded.
Maybe I am splitting hairs, but maybe I’m not emphasizing it enough.
It’s not anywhere close to a real or reasonable comparison.
It’s long past time to be taking Covid19 seriously.
Hospital Covid19 ICU Staff begging for help and four days later we return to red tier???
That’s madness.
Rant over.
What,?????
are you the type of person invested in FeAr porn?
This article comes as close to anything here pointing out what many of us already understood: covid ain’t the only shit show in town , but it’s the one that people can do practically Nothing, and feel good about themselves.
Tsk Tsk tsk
P.S. from above,
So I did a little research, real quick.
As near as I could tell,
Just in December alone,
Humboldt had 12 Covid19 deaths;
Trinity had 4;
Mendocino had 3;
For a total of 19.
Multiply that by 12 months and you get an estimated total at the current “speed” of 228 Covid19 deaths per year.
Blows 162 (ODs and suicides) right out of the water, even if you add the 25 homicides for a total of 189.
The first Covid19 deaths (2nd) in Humboldt didn’t even happen until July.
Apples and oranges comparison.
Let’s not let any Covid19 deaths be preventable deaths by being complacent, careless, or misled.
I imagine Kym will come to his defense, but I believe this article should be labeled careless or misleading.
It simply isn’t true.
At least the implication of the headline isn’t true, it’s twisted.
It isn’t supported by the rest of the contents, which is otherwise totally factual, to be fair, and to his credit.
Covid19 is in this context, not being “Outpaced”.
Sorry.
Citation required.
I guess when I said “rant over”, that wasn’t true either, to be fair.
You’ve made some really good points.
While I enjoyed the information, and tried to point out the only person quoted who said ‘don’t compare’ the topics against each other – I find that I don’t like the headline either.
Those “Covid death” numbers are for the whole year Guest. Trinity anyway(4).
All 4 in December for Trinity.
The rest I posted are also all from December.
12 in Humboldt.
3 in mendo.
It would be more accurate to do this:
sum of covid deaths per county by month/ # months we have data for *12 months per year = projected death rate for that 12 month period.
However, we have to assume viral loading stays the same, hospitals aren’t overrun etc. So that’s overly simplistic, but more accurate than taking the worst month and multiplying by 12, ignoring all the other data.
The problem with your line of thinking is that December is going to be worse because it’s in flu season, it’s dark, people want to spend the holidays with their families, etc. In June the weather is nice, there are more hours of daylight, and people can spend time outside.
With that said: everyone here is ignoring that these graphs don’t actually demonstrate a rise in “Preventable Deaths” in the Emerald counties. The number of preventable deaths by year is *decreasing* on a lot of those graphs. I’m not sure what’s going on in the Mendo, but overdose/suicide was rising last year too.
Even if the graphs did match the arrival of COVID lockdowns (which they don’t!) you’d still need to look further to determine a correlation/causation relationship for sure.
I also wonder if the demographics of individuals dying from preventable deaths shifted with the onset of COVID lockdowns.
It’s a pity this article doesn’t address that.
The preventable death rate has achieved a relatively steady state.
Covid19, not so much.
The problem with a line of thinking that assumes Covid19 deaths have reached their peak, let alone achieved anything close to resembling a steady state, is that it’s not being taken seriously enough.
It won’t be a reasonable comparison until Covid19 hit it’s stride.
And yes, it’s a fair comparison to use December’s stats.
19 Covid19 deaths in the Emerald Triangle.
Fact.
Divide 99 OD’s by 12.
= 8.25
Divide 63 suicides by 12.
= 5.25
Add them together and you get 13.5
Covid19 deaths are 140.7% higher than combined suicides and OD’s for December.
Or, well, so called preventable deaths are only 71% of Covid19 deaths.
A fair comparison.
Equal duration, both at full speed.
Fair to say Covid19 deaths are currently outpacing suicides and OD’s, combined, significantly.
It might still be true if you added averaged homicides, 2.1, for a total of 15.6.
Still 121.8% more Covid19 deaths.
Spare me the flu B.S.
December wasn’t the worst month for Mendocino Covid19 deaths.
There were 9 in the second half of July.
But, like other corona viruses we’ve had around for generations, covid 19 has annual cycles. Its less durable under higher temps and more UV. So using the actual numbers is probably best.
But yes, an April to April (or April to December) comparison will give a more fair comparison. Although the virus was here in November of 19 and we had our first recorded dealtu in early February (for the state)
People are crazy and times are strange
I’m locked in tight, I’m out of range
I used to care, but things have changed
Poignant.
Thanks, I think that I agree.
Things have changed for me.
I don’t care, is a new possibility.
Those words were written by my man Zimmy.
The good news today is Fauci says our lives will return to normal by the end of the year, so we’re nearly half way through this. He also expects proof of vaccination to be a common requirement for school, travel, and employment. Get jabbed, peeps!
“Show your papers!” Guess we didn’t learn from history.
Que lastima.
No, you haven’t learned from history.
It’s always funny how these guys who make these ridiculous historical analogies dont appear to have ever learned a cardinal rule of these kinds of analogies: comparing X-thing-I-really-hate-because-my-freedom to being stuffed in a boxcar and driven straight to your death in a Nazi death camp is a good sign that you don’t know much history. Or much about anything outside a tiny little sheltered existence where every inconvenience is tantamount to Nazism or Stalinism.
What didn’t I learn real brian?
I guess it was and still is ok in your mind?
“My body, Their choice!”
Fauci also said it would end by summer, apparently he changed his mind. He also said vaccines likely would NOT be mandated back in August. I guess he changed his mind. He also said nobody but healthworkers should wear masks…
No, Fauci did not say COVID would end by summer. He said back in April, we COULD approach normalcy if we made changes. https://www.sacbee.com/news/coronavirus/article241882091.html
I imagine forging “papers” will become a booming business.
The suicide and OD problem was awful in the Emerald Counties BEFORE Covid.
Nothing new here, except that maybe we can start helping the people who are risk of suicide and/or substance abuse.
????
I remember back 13+ years ago how NPR did a good many shows talking about how we needed to use more opioids to help relieve our pain. In some of them they talked about how impoverished folks had less access to them, and how the Government needed to step up helping them get them.
I was almost killed at work and have lived in constant pain since. When I woke up first thing I did was stop the pain killers. It sucks, does it ever.
But only a brain dead idiot would think a life of pain pills is any sort of answer.
Please DON’T take your own life or anyone elses. THOU SHALT NOT KILL… HOLY BIBLE. I do believe there’s no exception made for killing your own self. God gave us life. And He can take it. But please leave that to Him. Reach out to someone if you’re thinking about suicide or homicide. Definately have an honest conversation with God before you do either. And remember…always remember…this too shall pass.
For those who pay attention this is the expected outcome of absurd, statist driven mandates.
https://www.theepochtimes.com/2-minnesota-lawmakers-say-states-covid-19-deaths-inaccurate-call-for-nationwide-audit_3638168.html
Just not about paying attention, it’s about the incentives to inflate covid numbers for Cares Act CASH.
it’s a numbers Game.
Meanwhile Overdose is outpacing Covid deaths, but people can feel self righteous and so completely superior for being able to ignore the damage being done to healthy people.
I’m sorry you can no longer enjoy your in-resturaunt appletinis. Its been tough for everyone.
The stress is building. Very real stress factors like being unable to work, being unable to pay rent or mortgage, escalating back bills due at some future undetermined point possibly leading to homelessness- these in addition to unrelenting concerns over illness and death- combined with an inability to see and hug loved ones. Yeah- I can see where people might lose their shit! I’m seeing it in friends- mostly those who live in urban areas and based their worth on social interactions and public entertainment like…live music We are blessed to be up here. I encourage all to adopt personal forms of expression and self- inspection such as writing, learning a musical instrument, painting, poetry, art to share, etc. This could be a time of great personal discovery if handled properly! I wish I had the time – but I’m too busy!!
Interesting stats, but a bogus premise. The definition of “preventable deaths” is meaningless. From the article:
‘[Kendall] described a “preventable death” as a death in which the circumstances could have been avoided.
Using Sheriff Kendall’s working definition, deaths from COVID-19, overdoses, suicides, and homicides could be characterized as “preventable deaths.” ‘
So the delineation is not between deaths of natural causes and human-inflicted ones, and not between deaths at post-average life-expectancy age and younger ones; not between any meaningful division of categories at all.
If the four listed factors determine “preventable deaths” in this argument, then virtually ALL human deaths are preventable in the moment, while, at this point in history, all humans’ ultimate meeting with death is non-preventable.
That is, auto accidents are preventable. Deaths from heart attack and stroke are preventable (eat healthily and exercise). Burning up in wildfires is preventable. Drowning is preventable.
Being poor or underprivileged and not having health coverage is preventable.
Living in Granada care home alongside a virus often lethal to elders is preventable.
Although death will ultimately prevail in all cases, we will eliminate countless opportunities for it if we stay home and isolate ourselves from all danger– avoiding the circumstances leading to death.
I am not coming at this with an attitude re: either side of the debate as to whether Covid itself or the reaction it has caused is more lethal. My attitude is simply that an argument should be framed in meaningful terms.
“Interesting stats, but a bogus premise…Using Sheriff Kendall’s working definition, deaths from COVID-19, overdoses, suicides, and homicides could be characterized as “preventable deaths…So the delineation is not between deaths of natural causes and human-inflicted ones, and not between deaths at post-average life-expectancy age and younger ones; not between any meaningful division of categories at all..” ‘”
Too logical…TOO LOGICAL!!!! TRAITOR CONSPIRACY THEORY!!!! TALIBAN INSURGENT YOU!!!
Well put.
There’s this concept as well.
balkanization. [ (bawl-kuh-nuh-zay-shuhn) ]. Division of a place or country into several small political units, often unfriendly to one another.
Suh-thurn strat-UH-gee
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Southern_strategy
Racism was a good enough wedge issue for Republicans for a while, then they added abortion to spite the bible being 100% pro abortion. Now they’ve managed to convince people that quarentines are somehow unconstitutional, to spite the fact the federal government has been doing them since THE REVOLUTIONARY WAR.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quarantine