Germany’s coronavirus anomaly: high infection rates but few deaths

[Baron]

Without doubts Germany has the best health health system in the world.

The coronavirus crisis has hit Germany with full force. Infections are increasing rapidly, schools, factories and bars have closed across the country, and government measures to slow the outbreak are becoming more draconian by the day. In one crucial way, however, the country is proving remarkably resilient: relative to known infections, the number of deaths has so far been minuscule. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there were 13,979 coronavirus infections in Germany on Thursday afternoon, more than in any other country except China, Italy, Iran and Spain.

At the same time, Germany had only registered 42 deaths. Neighbouring France, by contrast, reported 9,058 infections and 243 deaths. Spain had 17,395 infections and 803 deaths. The US, the UK, Italy and even South Korea all show case fatality rates significantly higher than Germany.

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[the other mike]

The common denominator.

 

[OldLady]

They've probably done a lot more testing. Makes the # of cases look higher?

 

[JimBowie1958]

The Germans have been using Chloroquine, as I understand it, to treat ICU patients.

 

[JimBowie1958]

They've probably done a lot more testing. Makes the # of cases look higher?

But how does that affect the total death numbers?

 

[depotoo]

The Germans have been using Chloroquine, as I understand it, to treat ICU patients.

Or if they had other chronic health issues, listing them as cause of death, with the virus as being secondary.

 

[JimBowie1958]

The Germans have been using Chloroquine, as I understand it, to treat ICU patients.

Or if they had other chronic health issues, listing them as cause of death, with the virus as being secondary.

The Germans are far too anal to not list the cause of death accurately.

 

[Carl in Michigan]

They've probably done a lot more testing. Makes the # of cases look higher?

WE will never know how lethal this flu is until we have an accurate sample of the population tested.

 

[xyz]

The Germans have been using Chloroquine, as I understand it, to treat ICU patients.

Or if they had other chronic health issues, listing them as cause of death, with the virus as being secondary.

The Germans are far too anal to not list the cause of death accurately.

Maybe, but sometimes they also justify certain things with reasons no one else understands.

 

[Bruce_T_Laney]

The Germans have been using Chloroquine, as I understand it, to treat ICU patients.

Or if they had other chronic health issues, listing them as cause of death, with the virus as being secondary.

The Germans are far too anal to not list the cause of death accurately.

Ummm, I feel insulted after reading that and finding out my Grandfather was from Bavaria, Germany...

But you are correct we are obnoxious just like the Scandinavians...

 

[OldLady]

It doesn't. But relative to known infections, the number of deaths has so far been minuscule.
What I was thinking was, maybe Germany has LESS infections than some of these other countries who have not tested as many people? I've been reading that it is estimated a gargantuan number of cases in the US are undetected/untested right now, and I'm assuming that is the same in Spain, etc. If we had the numbers of everyone who has it, mild cases as well, our death rates might seem miniscule in comparison. It was just a thought.

 

[OldLady]

They've probably done a lot more testing. Makes the # of cases look higher?

WE will never know how lethal this flu is until we have an accurate sample of the population tested.

We will never know. If you look up the 1918 Spanish flu, the estimates of those who had it vary unbelievably. Right now the experts and the projectionists and all the rest are playing with numbers that have lots of factors. It's "lies, damned lies and statistics" all over the place right now. Don't get me wrong--It's serious, and I believe the social distancing is important--people would still be living their lives per normal if the government wasn't closing everything. But considering how much we HAVE done to put the brakes on this beast, I am highly skeptical of some of the projected numbers being flung around.

 

[xyz]

They've probably done a lot more testing. Makes the # of cases look higher?

WE will never know how lethal this flu is until we have an accurate sample of the population tested.

We will never know. If you look up the 1918 Spanish flu, the estimates of those who had it vary unbelievably. Right now the experts and the projectionists and all the rest are playing with numbers that have lots of factors. It's "lies, damned lies and statistics" all over the place right now. Don't get me wrong--It's serious, and I believe the social distancing is important--people would still be living their lives per normal if the government wasn't closing everything. But considering how much we HAVE done to put the brakes on this beast, I am highly skeptical of some of the projected numbers being flung around.

That was brutal, they didn't have the medicines we now have back then.

I'm surprised so few people have died now, given the mobility we have today, and also that it spreads so easily.

 

[Andylusion]

Without doubts Germany has the best health health system in the world.

The coronavirus crisis has hit Germany with full force. Infections are increasing rapidly, schools, factories and bars have closed across the country, and government measures to slow the outbreak are becoming more draconian by the day. In one crucial way, however, the country is proving remarkably resilient: relative to known infections, the number of deaths has so far been minuscule. According to data from Johns Hopkins University, there were 13,979 coronavirus infections in Germany on Thursday afternoon, more than in any other country except China, Italy, Iran and Spain.

At the same time, Germany had only registered 42 deaths. Neighbouring France, by contrast, reported 9,058 infections and 243 deaths. Spain had 17,395 infections and 803 deaths. The US, the UK, Italy and even South Korea all show case fatality rates significantly higher than Germany.

Subscribe to read | Financial Times

And Germany has one of the highest level of private insurance on top of their overly expensive government run health care system.

Anyone who supports single-payer socialized health care, you can't look to Germany as a model, since nearly everyone has private insurance, and there are dozens of for-profit private capitalist hospitals.

In fact, I would wager that is exactly why the death rate is lower in Germany.

 

[colfax_m]

Anyone who supports single-payer socialized health care, you can't look to Germany as a model, since nearly everyone has private insurance, and there are dozens of for-profit private capitalist hospitals.

Germany’s healthcare system has a lot in common with Obamacare. My preference would be to expand the ACA to cover everyone instead of those without employer based coverage.

Although the ACA was labeled as socialist too, so who knows.

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

They've probably done a lot more testing. Makes the # of cases look higher?

But how does that affect the total death numbers?

It doesn’t. But it gives the number perspective.

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

The common denominator.

Apparently you can narrow that down to the sauerkraut alone. I couldn’t find any in multiple stores over the past week.

 

[harmonica]

..the Germans are well known for organization/keeping records/cleanliness-sanitation/discipline...they were always good at technological achievments/etc ..they have been great at sports ....etc
...they have a great culture

 

[RoshawnMarkwees]

..the Germans are well known for organization/keeping records/cleanliness-sanitation/discipline...they were always good at technological achievments/etc ..they have been great at sports ....etc
...they have a great culture

Well, most of the time. They had an issue in the 1930’s and 40’s.

 

[harmonica]

..the Germans are well known for organization/keeping records/cleanliness-sanitation/discipline...they were always good at technological achievments/etc ..they have been great at sports ....etc
...they have a great culture

Well, most of the time. They had an issue in the 1930’s and 40’s.

..they defeated not one--but two great nations -quickly..nations with better tanks/etc ..they did very well considering they were fighting against many nations--with the 2 biggest/etc
..if you ever read about WW2, their soldiers were very good...
..it was their culture that made them do as well as they did--considering etc
...they were still disciplined/etc--and that greatly helps in warfare for many reasons ..helps with logistics also--which is very important