As the Covid-19 crisis continues and economic problems mount, there is good news. For the redeemed of the Lord, there is always good news in Holy Scripture.
NOT PANIC ACTION BUT A BALANCED PERSPECTIVE
We have never made light of the coronavirus epidemic. It is a major problem, and serious steps must be taken to minimize its spread and devastation. But there has to be a proper perspective, which is not found in the panic-driven media. To put this business in right perspective, while thousands have died of Covid-19, MILLIONS have died of other things. About 3 million people die of all causes in America every year, and 56 million worldwide. That’s MILLION. Worldwide, that’s 153,000 deaths per day, 6,400 PER HOUR, every hour, hour after hour after hour. The leading causes of death in America are, in the following order, heart disease, cancer, accidents, lower respiratory diseases, stroke, Alzheimer’s, diabetes, and influenza. The reason that the predominant approach to Covid-19 is small-minded is that we DO live with death. We are dying people in a world of death. This is the reality of life on earth. We live with death in a thousand forms and we must learn how to live with coronavirus.
Many have mocked the comparison of Covid-19 with the flu, but there is a comparison. Covid-19 is still a small thing compared to influenza, though it is yet to be seen how they will compare in the end. In 2018, THERE WERE 80,000 FLU DEATHS IN AMERICA, which was about 450 deaths per day. Worldwide, about 1 billion people contract the flu, according to Johns Hopkins Medicine, and about 500,000 die annually during the flu season, according to the Centers for Disease Control. That is about 2740 FLU DEATHS PER DAY or 114 PER HOUR. It appears that influenza is not as easily spread as coronavirus, but that influenza is very contagious is obvious by the massive numbers of infections annually. A billion!
If influenza infections and fatalities were to be tracked on a chart and updated in real time and broadcast continually from every news site on earth and flashed across the length and breadth of social media as per Covid-19, there would be unending panic every year. The six-foot rule would be a permanent reality.
Again, this is not to make light of the coronavirus. It is a major problem and requires serious attention and the application of much wisdom. We aren’t saying that radical steps shouldn’t be taken, such as social distancing, limiting large gatherings, etc. But there has to be a proper perspective. We do live with death. It is reality, and we must learn how to deal with the coronavirus epidemic without pulling down the very fabric of a modern society.
LATEST
According to The Lancelot Infectious Diseases medical journal, the current estimates on the Covid-19 fatality rate is 1.38% of confirmed cases, .66% overall, and 7.8% for those over 80 (“The Lancet Infectious Diseases: comprehensive Covid-19 hospitalization and death rate estimates,” EurekAlert, Mar. 30, 2020). This is less than half of the rate that was reported earlier. It means that more than 99% of those who are contracting Covid-19 are recovering and 92% of those over 80 are recovering. We wonder what percentage of those over 80 who contract influenza recover? We could only find statistics for 65 and over, and 65-80 is a significantly different group than 80 and over. We do know that 12,000 people over 65 died of influenza in America the 2017-18 season (“Flu Deaths Rising for Americans over 65,” AARP. Oct. 2, 2018). The sad reality is that when you are over 80, you are likely to die of anything, anytime! I don’t think anyone over 80 would argue with me about that. The interesting thing is that three thousand years ago, God’s Word spoke specifically about the ages 70 and 80. “For all our days are passed away in thy wrath: we spend our years as a tale that is told. The days of our years are threescore years and ten; and if by reason of strength they be fourscore years, yet is their strength labor and sorrow; for it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Who knoweth the power of thine anger? even according to thy fear, so is thy wrath. So teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90:9-12). This is very good counsel. Our earthly lives are like like a passing shadow at best, and we need to apply our hearts to wisdom.
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