As people get weary of the constraints that higher Covid alert levels place on our social, educational and economic activities, consideration should be given the table below.

It’s taken from a soon-to-be published study that has examined the most reliable data available globally regarding the Covid-related Infection Fatality Rates (IFR) — by age — amongst those infected. In other words, the study — Assessing the Age Specificity of Infection Fatality Rates for Covid-19 — looks only at the best data from 12 countries so as to get the most accurate picture of deaths attributable to coronavirus. The study was done by a US and Australian university team and includes data from New Zealand.

And it starkly confirms what most of us have heard in general terms — the older you are, the deadlier  the coronavirus is likely to be.

Deaths by these age segments per 10,000 infected cases would be:

Age
0 to 34     1 death

35 to 44   4 deaths

45 to 54   20 deaths

55 to 64   70 deaths

65 to 74   240 deaths

75 to 84   890 deaths

85+           3,680 deaths

For comparison, the study observes:

“For a young adult, the fatality risk of a SARS-CoV-2 infection is roughly comparable to the risks associated with engaging in other everyday activities. By contrast, an 60-year-old adult who gets infected faces a fatality risk more than 50 times higher than the annual fatality risk of driving an automobile.”

The analysis also indicates that the IFR from Covid is 10 times greater than from seasonal flu.

There can be little doubt that ethical questions arise when the fatality risk of lessening our Covid constraints falls — with certainty — so disproportionately on specific segments of our population.

How do you feel about that?

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6 Comments

  1. It sucks being in the older group 65 to 74 we are fully aware of the greater risks involved and wish some of the people who are so blase about Covid think of their older relatives that they are putting in danger.

  2. Thank you for supplying this information. It is a reality check and very terrifying for ‘the most vulnerable in our society’

  3. It sort of means that all those that want an ‘open slather’ and open borders etc are basically telling their parents and grandparents to just go away and die so that their section of the community can enjoy themselves. Harsh!

  4. It’s not only age that should be taken into consideration but general health, lifestyle and immune response. I’m over 60 but generally have good health, eat healthily, don’t have colds or flu, never have the flu shots. Personally covid-19 does not worry me at all. There is unwarranted fear as a result of biased media coverage….if it bleeds it leads….they always show the worst case scenario, on TV and in the papers, and emphasize the negative because it gets views or sells copies. But i can see why people who have illnesses or compromised immune systems are afraid or feel vulnerable.

  5. Older people stay home if they are worried. If not… they can join the rest of us and carry on with our lives rather than living in Jacindaland.

  6. The best part of a generation of grandparents was lost in Italy. To glibly think that we are not susceptible to the ravages of COVID-19 if we have no underlying conditions is to ignore the mounting evidence of those who have recovered and yet have sustained long-lasting health issues. Young, healthy individuals are amongst those. This data is excellent. I hope some quantitative data will emerge in time on the residual health issues/problems for those who have recovered. Thank you Bay Buzz for keeping things real continually. Facts based on evidence. I do not see your article as fear mongering. I interpret this as a salutary reminder of why we must continue to live our lives but with appropriate cautionary measures.

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