As Twitchy has reported, at least four publications called Georgia a “death trap” and an experiment in human sacrifice after Republican Gov. Brian Kemp decided to allow places like bowling alleys, tattoo parlors, barbershops, and nail salons to reopen April 24, as long as proper safety measures were in place. Oddly, no one seemed to write similar pieces about Democratic Gov. Jared Polis and Colorado, which also rolled out the reopening of a number of businesses.
Republican pollster Patrick Ruffini decided to look at some other states that have been praised or criticized for their response to the COVID-19 pandemic:
California did everything right, shutting down the state before it needed to. Deaths per 100,000: 5.
Florida and Texas did everything wrong, acting too late, leaving beaches open. Deaths per 100,000: Florida: 6, Texas: 3.
— Patrick Ruffini (@PatrickRuffini) April 30, 2020
That prompted Scott Adams to ponder something:
What if all that matters to the #coronavirus death rate is the number of elevators, subways, and nursing homes in your state? It's starting to look that way. https://t.co/OiqlkyjOjA
— Scott Adams (@ScottAdamsSays) April 30, 2020
or maybe average age:
Texas 34.3
California 36.1
Florida 41.8— Michael Coleman (@DrMike666CCP) April 30, 2020
Lots of nursing homes in Florida. Governor there, mobilized the national guard to protect nursing homes early. California and New York, yet to do anything significant to protect nursing homes
— Erick bridge (@BridgeErick) April 30, 2020
Those are at least important factors as is density in general, demographics, pre-existing conditions and even state & local leadership!
— True Liberal 2 (@TrueLiberal2) April 30, 2020
NY population density – 26,403 per square mile
— doscwo boscwo (@boscwo) April 30, 2020
Add commuter trains and buses, I am with you.
— RJGirving (@GirvingRj) April 30, 2020
As someone who has spent years commuting on Boston subways, this is what I’ve been thinking for quite some time now.
If you were commissioned to come up with the most effective disease spreading machine, you’d be hard pressed to do better than a crowded subway.
— Nick Bonatsakis (@nickbona) April 30, 2020
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo just announced that New York City would be disinfecting its subway cars every night.
Great question. What if we simply handle assisted living centers much better than we have? What if mass transit was closed, rather than everything?
— Veegersbeeper (@Veegerbeeper) April 30, 2020
Eliminate all mass transit. I like it!!!! I really do.
— Eigh P Freely (@EighPFreely) April 30, 2020
Thank God Californians have rejected public transportation. Saved many lives.
— David Cleary (@dcnh) April 30, 2020
Good thing California never finished that $90 billion train to nowhere.
I noticed the same pattern about the first of April. But it's really difficult to pull that data into a single place for analysis. Clearly, though, public transportation and communal living are correlated with infections and deaths from COVID-19
— Bill Hennessy (@HennessySTL) April 30, 2020
Turns out that the wisdom of sub-urbanization proves not only to be a model for stronger families, but healthier societies too…
— Terra Glissade (@RustySharpe4) April 30, 2020
All that matters is pre-existing conditions. pic.twitter.com/PDQqHtHppp
— mansplaining since urmom (@michaeldestroys) April 30, 2020
A simple correlational analysis might look at population density (county by county) and death rate. I would predict a very high correlation. I'm sure when the smoke clears the researchers will look at that plus age, race, rates of comorbidity, and other factors.
— Paul McClanahan (@PWMcClanahan) April 30, 2020
Yes, but California didn't cover up the skate parks in time. I think that is the difference.
— Alexander Nevermind (@2020DoOver) April 30, 2020
I blame that paddle boarder.
— Jay Bush (@tn_bush) April 30, 2020
It's almost like our 'measures' don't have much control/influence over the virus.
— Imanengineer (@Isolveissues) April 30, 2020
100%
— Adam Clark (@adamhclark) April 30, 2020
I think this crap is less about the "death rate" and more about people at all levels of society finally getting their chance to bully other people around—and the large percentage of people who are much happier when they're told what to do.
— GaryATX (@GaryATX787) April 30, 2020
Opening up the economy isn't letting people die.
It's just a recognition that by preventing the medical system from being overwhelmed, we've already achieved the Best we could achieve.
We can't do any better, without a cure which is 12-18 months out, or never.
Too long.
— Karl R. Maier (@KarlMaier_) April 30, 2020
At least the nation’s media is keeping an eye on Georgia so we can see how Gov. Kemp’s experiment in human sacrifice works out.
Related:
A little late? Gov. Cuomo FINALLY orders NYC to disinfect the subway cars every night https://t.co/KU89sUrm6g
— Twitchy Team (@TwitchyTeam) April 29, 2020