Last update and review: April 10, 2020.
At this point, we have to postulate that the main causes of the horrible COVID-19 mortality rates are bureaucratic sabotage and medical incompetence.
France hits a gruesome record.
On April 8, 2020, France hit a gruesome record as the country’s COVID-19 mortality rate reached 13.35%, an absolute record so far. Italian medical doctors and bureaucrats are not far behind with a COVID-19 mortality rate of 12.63%. Other “developed countries” in Europe are catching up. The table with COVID-19 mortality rates for a selection of European countries is inserted below.
To calculate the COVID-19 mortality rates we used the data from the WHO COVID-19 report from April 8, 2020.
The original file of the WHO’s COVID-19 report from April 8, 2020 is inserted below.
Medical incompetence is the main cause of horrible COVID-19 mortality rates.
Germany vs the rest of the Europe.
To illustrate the statement that medical incompetence is the main cause of horrible mortality rates of COVID-19, the easiest first step is to compare the mortality rates in Germany and in several other European countries.
COVID-19 mortality rate in Germany never surpassed 1.8% throughout the epidemic, while comparable European countries are almost all have COVID-19 mortality rates between 5 and 13.35%.
Medical doctors ignore the available knowledge base on the 2002-2004 SARS epidemic.
COVID-19 is strikingly similar to SARS-1, severe acute respiratory syndrome, caused by SARS-CoV-1 virus during the 2002-2004 epidemic. Both diseases are caused by two suspiciously similar viruses, SARS-CoV-1 and SARS-CoV-2. The underlying pathological mechanisms are very similar. And there is an ample literature that describes SARS-CoV-1 virus and SARS-1 (2002-2004).
Notably, there are good reviews on the different treatments used to treat SARS-1 in 2002-2004. There is a list of those treatments in the table below from the study by Stockman, 2006.
As you can see in the table above, none of the treatments was effective. In particular, both the antiviral ribavirin and the use of corticosteroids may have caused harm.
Stockman, 2006:
“…corticosteroid use within the first week of illness (SARS-1, 2002-2004) was associated with delayed viral clearance.”
Yet, in the ongoing COVID-19 epidemic, medical doctors around the world use the same treatments. In particular, the inappropriate use of corticosteroids may be one of the causes of the abysmal COVID-19 mortality rates. Corticosteroids were massively used in Italy. As of March 17, 2020, 27% of the patients in Italy were treated with corticosteroids.
Physiological Literacy: critically ill patients have elevated levels of endogenous corticosteroids. Both endogenous and exogenous corticosteroids suppress lymphocytes counts and increase neutrophils counts. An abnormal ratio of neutrophils to lymphocytes, and lymphopenia, are prominent features of viral pneumonia, pneumonia of any cause, including SARS-1 (2002-2004) and COVID-19. And yet, illiterate doctors administer corticosteroids to their COVID-19 patients. In what percentage of cases is this use of corticosteroids justified?
The fact that administration of corticosteroids suppresses circulating lymphocytes and increases circulating neutrophils is known since the 1980-s.
Since at least 2003, it is also known that the use of corticosteroids for acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is also highly problematic at its early stages.
“High doses of methylprednisolone for 1–2 days early in the course of severe sepsis or established ARDS do not prevent ARDS development or reduce mortality rate, and they may be harmful.”
Thompson, 2003 (1):
High doses of methylprednisolone for 1–2 days early in the course of severe sepsis or established ARDS do not prevent ARDS development or reduce mortality rate, and they may be harmful. Lower doses of methylprednisolone in late, unresolving ARDS may be of benefit, but a large clinical trial is needed to clearly demonstrate a survival advantage that outweighs the potential risks.
The statement of Thompson, 2003 (1), is corroborated by the experience of treating ARDS during the SARS-1 (2002-2003) epidemic.
Stockman, 2006:
“In two trials, high-dose methylprednisolone given for approximately 2 d was not effective for early ARDS.”
The right statistics would be the COVID-19 mortality rates in each hospital.
There are reports from the more competent medical teams that show a different picture on COVID-19 mortality. Thus, a medical team from Marseille, France, reports that as of March 29, 2020, their hospital treated a total of 1003 patients and that only one patient died.
The COVID-19 mortality rate at the Marseille hospital is thus 1/1003=0.00099=0.099%.
A COVID-19 mortality rate for patients treated by a COMPETENT medical team can be as low as 0.099%.
Another interesting calculation, is to compare the difference between the competent medical team from the Marseille hospital and the medical doctors in general elsewhere in France.
COVID-19 mortality rate in France as of April 8, 2020 was 13.35%. 13.35%/0.099%=134.84
COVID-19 mortality rate in France is 135 times higher than the mortality rate of COVID-19 patients treated by a competent medical team at a Marseille hospital.
Even competent medical teams will probably lose more patients due to a considerable number of people with serious pre-existing conditions. But the mortality rates that we are witnessing now are clearly the result of the utter incompetence of a large majority of medical doctors: who holds the remote control that animates and directs the bureaucrats worldwide?
Idiotic and criminal bureaucrats all over the world are engaged in coordinated sabotage during COVID-19 epidemic. Who holds the remote control that animates and directs the bureaucrats?
Idiotic and criminal bureaucrats around the world synchronously introduce absurd interdictions and harsh punishments. At the same time, the proper response to the epidemic is sabotaged.
In France, as in the US and in many other countries, remotely controlled bureaucrats banned the use of hydroxychloroquine for COVID-19 until there is pneumonia or a patient’s condition deteriorates. Two months ago, hydroxychloroquine was sold in France without prescription, “over the counter”. Today, during the epidemic, it is banned.
Selected references:
1. Thompson, S257 Crit Care Med 2003 Vol. 31, No. 4 (Suppl.).
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