Don’t let the media scare you. The ‘China virus’ is not that bad | Letter to the editor

If it bleeds, it leads!

This old news media adage is still true today. For example, most of the television, radio and print news media today discuss the rising cases of COVID-19 and the rising deaths. “How can we let this continue? How can we let our children go to school?” Yet, these are the bleeding tactics to scare us. Here are the facts:

• Of the 577,891 cases of the Chinese Virus in Florida since March there have only been 35,200 hospitalizations. – 6%.
• There have been 9,932 deaths. – 1.7%.
• Of the deaths 93% have been 55 years of age or older, 82% above 65.
• There have been 119,543 cases for ages 24 and less. Of these 1,315 have been hospitalized – 1.1%.
• There have been 27 deaths in this younger age category – 0.3%.
• During 2019 there were 9,600 deaths caused by auto accidents in this same younger age category.

The China virus is not as dangerous nor deadly as riding in a car for our children. Sounds like we should send our kids to school but, do not let them ride in a car ever!

Let’s ask our media to report all the facts so we can make informed decisions, not just the bleeding lead.

Gerry Hayes

Parrish