news // no. 4 COVID-19 update » On pace to double influenza and pneumonia deaths Timothy Easling Senior Columnist OVID-19 continues to dominate headlines— important to note is that it is not drastically outnumbering yearly influenza and pneumonia deaths in Canada. Many big media outlets are focused on highlighting case numbers, but do not emphasize that total deaths remain relatively low. While all deaths are tragic, the panic among average Canadians is arguably exaugurated; the data shows COVID still predominantly affects those of advanced age and weakened states, not healthy persons or really even those below the age of 80. Unless stated otherwise, all statistics in this piece are from available government data with age demographics (99.9 percent of cases). Since November g there have been 485 deaths, and 97 percent of those (471) are from those 60-and-up— often in long term care homes (LTCs), acute care, or assisted living, and with multiple comorbidities. Since the start of COVID, 7,659 (71 percent) of Canada’s 10,789 deaths have been from those 8o0-and-up. The population of Canada is 38,005,238. Countrywide from November 9-16, the 0-39 age bracket suffered 1 additional death, the 40-49 age bracket, 3, and the 50-59 age bracket, 10. The massive case numbers serve to indicate the low fatality rate of the disease for those not of ill health; the 0-39 age bracket saw 13,889 more cases, the 40-49 age bracket had 4,683 more, the 50-59 age bracket observed 4,049 more, and the 60+ age bracket recorded 6,062 more. Just from the last week of cases, the fatality rate for each bracket was 0.007 percent (0-39), 0.064 percent (40-49), 0.247 percent (50-59), and 7.8 percent (60+). Hospitalization increases remained relatively low and steady—and with almost none of them (again, for those not of advanced age and weakened states) resulting in death. The vast majority (71.5 percent) of hospitalizations were from the 60+ age bracket (820 more) with the lower age brackets registering small totals: o-39—114 more, 40-49—62 more, 50-59—143 more. ICU admittances remained much the same with only 159 more. Of those 159, 72.3 percent (115) were from the 60+ age bracket. The remaining 44 cases were divided among the lower age brackets: 0-39—10, 40-49—10, and 50-59—24. British Columbia has suffered 9 deaths from 2,271 cases since November g as Provincial Health Officer Bonnie Henry’s two-week health order enters its second week. The population of the province is 5,147,712. COVID-19 vaccines are often reported as the solution to the disease, but data raises some questions. In Canada, influenza and pneumonia were responsible for 8,511 deaths in 2018; COVID, with no vaccine, is on pace to do roughly double that figure over the course of the entire year—prompting the question of whether not enough attention is paid to the flu and pneumonia, or whether too much attention is paid to a very comparable disease (in terms of total fatality numbers). Additionally, despite the extremely accessible and well-advertised nature of the flu shot, only about a third of Canadians typically get vaccinated (a slight increase in recent years). Influenza vaccines have been developed since WWII and have almost 80 years of data to work with but have been reported as little as 10 percent effective—as in 2018. November online campus events at Douglas » What’s going down at Dougie? Jessica Berget Assistant Editor t’s the final stretch before final exams and the long-awaited winter break. Here are a few online events held by Douglas College and the DSU to get you through these final days. Students can register for all of these events online. Better Coping Skills Wednesday, November 18 at 2:30 pm An event continued from last months events, the college continues to host this online support group with Douglas College counselors and other fellow students to learn to better cope with uncertainties, anxiety, personal hardships, and how to deal with these arising issues. Tutor Tips Wednesday, November 18 at 3:30 pm The Douglas College Learning Centre is holding weekly events and workshops with peer tutors to help students with their academics and the skills needed to be successful in classes. This Wednesday, the workshop will focus on proofreading and self editing your essays. Virtual Wellness Activities Tuesday, November 17 from 12pm to pm or Wednesday, November 18 from 4 to5pm This hour-long online workshop (free to Douglas students) is all about learning methods of mindfulness and self care. Great for when the academic burnout and season affective disorder takes effect. Virtual Calm Thursdays 7:30 to 8pm till December 17 Learning how to stay calm and to give your mind a rest is a skill everyone should know— especially students as finals season approaches. Every week, students can join a Douglas College counselor and other students online to practice activities such as meditation that promote a calm sense of wellbeing. DSU Zoom Budget Chat November 19, November 23, November 25, and November 27 from 3 to 6:30 pm The DSU will be hosting these two online events with other DSU representatives for a chance for students to discuss feedback and give ideas for the Douglas College 2021-2022 budget. The chat held on November 19 will focus on tuition and other fees; November 23 will concern quality of education; November 25 will be about technology; and the final one will theotherpress.ca focus on international students. These chats will be held in two separate Zoom chats from 3 to 4:30 pm and then 5 to 6:30 pm. Friday Hangouts Friday, November 20 from 5 to 6 pm Douglas College will celebrate the last Friday Hangout of the semester this week which means this will be the final chance for students to socialize by playing games like bingo and trivia and other at-home activities. DSU Indigenous Self Care Tuesday, November 24 from 2:30 to 3:30 pm This self-care workshop will focus on emotional, physical, spiritual, and mental wellbeing as well as the medicine wheel. It will be facilitated by Susan Powell, a holistic health educator for over 40 years and of Lakota and British Isles ancestry. Photo by Billy Bui |