Atlas Shrugged

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?

This is why we need an upvote button.

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

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.

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.

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

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

And how does one put on a mask and take the proper precautions for the both of you?

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.

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.