A letter to the editor in the April 26 B.C. Catholic mentioned that “three million people worldwide have perished due to COVID-19.”
It is important to remember that this number reflects over 15 months of data. Worldometers.info tracked the 12-month COVID-19 death rate at 2.13 million at Jan. 21, 2021. In context the annual world death rate is over 55 million.
Numbers are usually misleading without context and timeframe.
Joan Davies
Coquitlam
Thank you for including the letter from Hillan Kiernan immediately after the one from Bert Podruzny in the May 3 B.C. Catholic. It really helped me calm down after more complaining about not attending Mass in person.
The scenario we are faced with in this pandemic is similar to one we encounter upon entering a hospital. Patients leave their choices and autonomy outside the doors and submit unquestioningly to the treatments, etc., as administered by the experts inside. That is why we here in B.C. are doing as well as we are. The experts are directing what needs to be done for the benefit of all of us so that the casualties are minimal.
Regarding the statistics on COVID deaths and the ages of deceased victims mentioned by Mr. Podruzny, I am a retired OR nurse, and in the medical field one death is one too many.
Would everyone reading this newspaper please refrain from describing health directives aimed at keeping all of us safe and healthy as intrusions on our rights and freedoms.
Please remember that we are also free to catch COVID-19 and get sick too. There is no denying care to anyone, even if they object to health advisories.
Penny Oyama
Burnaby
