# Atlas Shrugged **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [December 1, 2020, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876 "2020-12-01T01:15:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 12\ **Page:** 5

**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 11:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/81 "2020-12-02T23:20:41Z")

> [@Czarcasm](#): > > What are the infection rates? Not sure I understand the question… how many people have been infected in the US? I believe current best estimates are about 8 times laboratory confirmed cases. Probably somewhere around 100,000,000? ---

**Author:** ![Lobohan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/lobohan/32/79_2.png) [@Lobohan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lobohan)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 11:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/82 "2020-12-02T23:28:53Z")

This is why we need an upvote button. ---

**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 2, 2020, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/83 "2020-12-02T23:39:20Z")

> [@Trom](#): > > Infection fatality rates from the CDC: > 0-19 years: 0.0003% > 20-49 years: 0.02% > 50-69 years: 0.5% > 70+ years: 5.4% These are the infection fatality rates by age, but what are the infection rates by age? ---

**Author:** ![Trom](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/958977/32.png) [@Trom](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trom)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/84 "2020-12-03T00:16:31Z")

> [@Czarcasm](#): > > These are the infection fatality rates by age, but what are the infection rates by age? Ahh gotcha. From the CDC: Percentage of US confirmed infections: | Age Group | Percentage | Count | | --- | --- | --- | | 0 - 4 Years | 1.8% | 178,123 | | 5 - 17 Years | 8.2% | 828,084 | | 18 - 29 Years | 23.5% | 2,381,985 | | 30 - 39 Years | 16.5% | 1,671,153 | | 40 - 49 Years | 15.1% | 1,530,883 | | 50 - 64 Years | 20.5% | 2,078,070 | | 65 - 74 Years | 7.6% | 775,056 | | 75 - 84 Years | 4.2% | 422,357 | | 85+ Years | 2.7% | 272,087 | And percentage of US deaths: | Age Group | Percentage | Count | | --- | --- | --- | | 0 - 4 Years | \<0.1% | 48 | | 5 - 17 Years | 0.1% | 105 | | 18 - 29 Years | 0.5% | 1,040 | | 30 - 39 Years | 1.3% | 2,522 | | 40 - 49 Years | 3% | 5,932 | | 50 - 64 Years | 14.9% | 29,254 | | 65 - 74 Years | 20.8% | 40,851 | | 75 - 84 Years | 26.9% | 52,831 | | 85+ Years | 32.4% | 63,531 | Data source: [CDC COVID Data Tracker](https://covid.cdc.gov/covid-data-tracker/?CDC_AA_refVal=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.cdc.gov%2Fcoronavirus%2F2019-ncov%2Fcases-updates%2Fcases-in-us.html#demographics) Graphs about halfway down the page provide a good visualization. It’s striking how unequal the distributions are by age. People under 50 represent 65% of infections and 5% of deaths. People 50-74 represent 28% of infections and 36% of deaths. People 75+ represent 7% of infections and 59% of deaths. ---

**Author:** ![I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/i_love_me_vol.i/32/521_2.png) [@I\_Love\_Me\_Vol.I](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/I_Love_Me_Vol.I)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/85 "2020-12-03T00:26:06Z")

> [@SayTwo](#): > > All those trolley problem questions are well above my pay grade, which I think can be said for just about everyone else too. I’m sure I’m late to this as I’ve only read up to the post I’m quoting from. I want to say that IMO, posing a trolley problem is an effort to offer a simpler analogy to a complex issue. IMO a trolley problem’s “raison d’être” is to “dumb down” questions that are above your (and most people’s) pay grade. When complex issues can be put in such simple terms anyone can see the basic ramifications of each side of unavoidable yes/no policy decisions. I’m not sure I share your belief that a trolley problem is too difficult for you to understand. Also, I think there are times when one might prefer to feign ignorance. ---

**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/86 "2020-12-03T00:34:01Z")

Tell you what, you can be scared of all these hidden horrors for both of us. ---

**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/87 "2020-12-03T00:35:35Z")

Why should I be scared? I’m following the advice of scientists and medical professionals to avoid contracting the virus. Are you? ---

**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/88 "2020-12-03T00:35:54Z")

> [@FigNorton](#): > > Tell you what, you can be scared of all these hidden horrors for both of us And how does one put on a mask and take the proper precautions for the both of you? ---

**Author:** ![FigNorton](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/fignorton/32/5619_2.png) [@FigNorton](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/FigNorton)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/89 "2020-12-03T00:39:29Z")

So because I’m not scared of some theoretical increase of my chances of Alzheimer’s then I must be a maskhole. Bravo, guys. ---

**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 12:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/90 "2020-12-03T00:41:58Z")

> [@FigNorton](#): > > So because I’m not scared of some theoretical increase of my chances of Alzheimer’s then I must be a maskhole. Bravo, guys Since no one has called you that, I guess you have no one to thank for applying that label but yourself. Well done. ---

**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/92 "2020-12-03T01:46:13Z")

Closed on December 3, 2020, 1:46am UTC ---

**Author:** ![Colibri](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/colibri/32/1841_2.png) [@Colibri](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Colibri)\ **Post date:** [December 3, 2020, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876/93 "2020-12-03T01:47:37Z")

Seems like this has drifted far from the subject of the OP into the kind of discussion that has been had in a number of other threads in this forum. Especially in view of the snark flying about, I see no point in rehashing those in yet another thread. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/atlas-shrugged/926876.md?page=4)