Caller · moment 1 of 11
Dr. Steve Calls In: Coronavirus Mortality Rates and 1918 Flu Comparison
from Emergency Broadcast - Corona Call-Ins
3 min
Caller
A caller identified as Dr. Steve explains coronavirus mortality statistics by age group, compares it to the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic, and notes children appear largely unaffected while comedians debate whether to keep doing shows.
- Dr. Steve compares the 1918 influenza pandemic to COVID-19, noting that Spanish flu killed 50 million people—1% of the world's population.
- Unlike the 1918 flu, COVID-19 has shown no deaths in children under 10, and the 10-19 age group faces only a 0.2% mortality rate.
- Current data suggests an average mortality rate of about 3%, though it varies dramatically by age—80-year-olds face 15% mortality while young children face near 0%.
- Tim notes that while most people won't get COVID and most who do won't die, the virus will continue to disrupt life for a while.
- Comedians debating whether to do shows despite the pandemic seem mentally ill to Dr. Steve.
influenza pandemic of 1918Spanish flu