# Why hasn't the media rubbed our noses in COVID deaths? It might be the thing that saves us **URL:** \ **Category:** The Quarantine Zone\ **Tags:** covid-quarantine\ **Created:** [November 27, 2020, 5:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555 "2020-11-27T05:43:42Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 9
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 4:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/165 "2020-12-05T04:07:17Z")
the Governor in my state just announced we’re getting 3 time the vaccines that were originally expected and we will see 700,000 does by the end of the month. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/166 "2020-12-05T04:16:36Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Define “stress the logistical system” when you need to bring in one of only two dedicated medical ships in the US navy to manage a medical crisis and that covers just one city (granted the biggest city) and your state is setting up mobile medical units to deal with the load. NYC didn’t utilize the ship or mobile medical unit in the Javits Center to any extent so the ability to over compensate in advance has been demonstrated. [California spent millions on arena hospital that saw 9 patients.](https://www.modernhealthcare.com/politics-policy/california-spent-millions-arena-hospital-saw-9-patients). ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 4:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/167 "2020-12-05T04:26:16Z")
I’m not sure what this is supposed to tell us. Hindsight is 20/20. If your child was in the hospital and they told you they think they should put her on a ventilator “just in case” do you refuse that because she hasn’t gotten to the gasping for breath stage? Of course not. You try to be proactive and anticipate problems before they become serious problems. When you are working on a state-wide level where getting such resources in place takes a lot of time you need to err on the side of caution big time. It’s not a few deaths…it is potentially thousands in the balance. You seem like the kind of mayor from the middle-ages who thinks there is no need for a wall to protect from the barbarians until the barbarians have sacked the town. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 4:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/168 "2020-12-05T04:37:57Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > When you are working on a state-wide level where getting such resources in place takes a lot of time you need to err on the side of caution big time. It’s not a few deaths…it is potentially thousands in the balance. NYC has 1790 deaths per million and Italy has 959. We’ve demonstrated the ability to deal with the logistics involved in worst case scenarios . I don’t know how this could be more clear. We have the most ICU beds per capita, a massive medical transport system, the military capacity to move large numbers of people with 24 hrs notice as well as reserve military units available for State use. We’re using the National guard to distribute the vaccine to pre-planned locations. You act like people are sitting around waiting for something to happen before considering what to do. I’ve been listening to my Governor’s weekly updates and it’s clear that a great deal of contingency planning has gone into this. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 4:39am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/169 "2020-12-05T04:39:57Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > We’ve demonstrated the ability to deal with the logistics involved in worst case scenarios . I don’t know how this could be more clear. It’s not clear you are right. At all: > **[Anger in North Dakota after governor asks Covid-positive health workers to...](https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/nov/17/north-dakota-covid-positive-health-workers-coronavirus)** > > Doctors and nurses say order puts lives in dangers, amid a Covid surge and a statewide shortage of healthcare workers If we have so much capacity and ability to cope why that? And, again, it remains that you should plan for an uncertain worst case future and not your perfect view of the past. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 4:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/170 "2020-12-05T04:58:51Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > You seem like the kind of mayor from the middle-ages who thinks there is no need for a wall to protect from the barbarians until the barbarians have sacked the town. I’ve patiently explained to you what’s available, what’s been done in the worst case scenario and what my state has been doing in response to your concerns. Your position seems to be one of medical collapse but you haven’t cited anything to support it. All you’ve done is give some odd analogy about a child and declared my position as something from the middle ages. Please explain, using cites, why we can’t build mobile medical facilities like we’ve already done, move patients to other facilities like we’ve already done, build ventilators to the point of export like we’ve already done, and move military assets and personnel like we’ve already done. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/171 "2020-12-05T05:00:53Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I’ve patiently explained to you what’s available And I just showed you a cite of a state in crisis (the article is from two weeks ago). Your “available” resources aren’t helping them. I really am wondering what it is you are trying to argue beyond “Whack-a-Mole is wrong”. ---
**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 5, 2020, 5:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/172 "2020-12-05T05:09:01Z")
He’s got a point, @Magiver. At what point does the national medical airlift system start helping out North Dakota? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/173 "2020-12-05T05:24:19Z")
when it’s needed. The article cited was about unhappy nurses and not about transporting patients. ---
**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 5, 2020, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/174 "2020-12-05T05:26:22Z")
It’s about corona positive nurses being required to work because of staff shortages. ---
**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 5, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/175 "2020-12-05T05:37:31Z")
And also, “When it’s needed” is bullshit. I don’t expect some costed out plan but you could point at a metric. Certain deaths/day? Cases/capita? Some hospital capacity number? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/176 "2020-12-05T05:37:49Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > It’s about corona positive nurses being required to work because of staff shortages What does that have to do with what I said? Did I promise sunshine and happiness? No. I said we have the capacity to build facilities and move patients. Oh, and while I’m thinking about it, we sent 1/3 of the entire Coast Guard rescue fleet to New Orleans when katrina hit. I cited that when we were discussing it at the time so don’t ask me to do the research again. That was 5 computers ago. ---
**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 5, 2020, 5:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/177 "2020-12-05T05:38:40Z")
Yeah, let’s send the Coast Guard to North Dakota. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/178 "2020-12-05T05:42:51Z")
> [@Magiver](#): > > I said we have the capacity to build facilities and move patients. What??? I’d like a reset here. @Magiver What are you arguing for? What is it you would like to see happen as a government response to the COVID pandemic? Put another way, if you were governor of State-X, what would you do? ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/179 "2020-12-05T05:44:12Z")
> [@FigNorton](#): > > And also, “When it’s needed” is bullshit. I don’t expect some costed out plan but you could point at a metric. Certain deaths/day? Cases/capita? Some hospital capacity number? Yes, the metric was NYC where we built a medical facility in 2 weeks and transported patients to 5 other states because one of their hospitals had problems with their oxygen system. the resources have been demonstrated. ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/180 "2020-12-05T05:46:45Z")
Didn’t work out for North Dakota did it? ---
**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 5, 2020, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/181 "2020-12-05T05:49:30Z")
So, the metric is “if it’s as bad as New York in April then we start up the national airlift plan”? ---
**Author:** ![Whack-a-Mole](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/whack-a-mole/32/141_2.png) [@Whack-a-Mole](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Whack-a-Mole)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 6:01am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/182 "2020-12-05T06:01:30Z")
It seems to me @Magiver has a notion that if, on paper, you have a capacity of “X” then as long as you are below that capacity all is well. There is no regard for the logistics or foresight to meet demand. ---
**Author:** ![Magiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/4491bb/32.png) [@Magiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Magiver)\ **Post date:** [December 5, 2020, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/183 "2020-12-05T06:02:00Z")
> [@Whack-a-Mole](#): > > Put another way, if you were governor of State-X, what would you do? What was done in NYC. The support they got wasn’t an accident. One of the things I learned from my Governor’s briefings was the level of cooperation from Federal resources. It really didn’t matter what was needed. Medicines were approved the same day, red tape was cut, new technologies approved, National Guards were called up. Again, there seems to be this idea that people are standing around waiting for something to happen before they react. States have been coordinating this with Federal agencies from day one. Long before the need for cold storage existed for the first vaccines my state had located and coordinated the movement of them. We’ll be distributing and administering them 24 hrs after approval. This is going to happen quickly. Just because you’re unaware of what is going on in the background doesn’t mean it’s not happening. If your governor is giving briefings then I encourage you to listen to them. ---
**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 5, 2020, 6:08am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555/184 "2020-12-05T06:08:02Z")
This is kind of unbelievable. You are ok with covid infected nurses working? Am I crazy to think you complained about New York sending covid patients back to their nursing homes? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555.md?page=8) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/why-hasnt-the-media-rubbed-our-noses-in-covid-deaths-it-might-be-the-thing-that-saves-us/926555.md?page=10)