Corona pandemic, the last straw of hope for capitalism, looks like propaganda worked. - part 1

Finally, in common with many other nations, the government has imposed a 21-day quarantine period to mitigate the spread of the Coronavirus. It is important to consider the political imperatives at play behind this decision, given the prevailing atmosphere of fear around the world. Governments find it necessary to respond to the anxiety gripping their populations, fueled by widespread propaganda suggesting that the coronavirus might herald an apocalyptic end to human existence.

At this point, there seems to be little more to add to the discourse on the coronavirus. Virtually every individual worldwide has been inundated with information through mass media and social networks, effectively turning them into self-proclaimed experts on the matter. They possess a wealth of knowledge about this pathogen, except for one crucial fact: it is essentially a mild to moderate influenza virus.

According to the World Health Organization's (WHO) published information on influenza, it is characterized by a sudden onset of symptoms such as fever, dry cough, headache, muscle and joint pain, severe fatigue, sore throat, and a runny nose. The cough can be particularly severe, lasting two weeks or more. Most people recover from these symptoms within a week without requiring medical attention. However, influenza can lead to severe illness or even death, especially among high-risk groups.

Globally, these annual influenza epidemics are estimated to result in approximately 3 to 5 million cases of severe illness and about 290,000 to 650,000 respiratory-related deaths. This is a well-established fact.

To put the current situation in perspective, the coronavirus has caused the deaths of less than 16,000 individuals who fall into the high-risk category. The rest of the cases have been managed without corona-related fatalities.

In essence, the contribution of the coronavirus to the overall spectrum of influenza deaths remains below 10%, taking the lower estimate of 290,000 influenza deaths into account, or approximately 3.07% if we consider the upper estimate of 650,000 annual deaths. It is worth noting that, amid the heightened paranoia surrounding this moderate pathogen, propagandists have acknowledged that approximately 80% of those infected recover without medical intervention, with only 20% requiring medical attention—primarily for chest and throat infections. Of this 20%, less than 6 to 8% experience critical conditions necessitating hospitalization. This critical information is often presented subtly, akin to fine print on a stock/share application form—small and discernible only to those who make a concerted effort to uncover it.

So, what, then, is the underlying motive for generating hyper-paranoia around this relatively mild virus, which has coexisted with us for an extended period without provoking such widespread hysteria as seen this year?

The answer lies elsewhere. This coronavirus hyperbole serves as capitalism's last-ditch effort to resuscitate itself in the face of diminishing profit margins in the production economy. It appears that, in the post-war economic lull, they have found a successful alternative model to artificially create the much-needed economic deficit, thereby ensuring capitalism's survival. And that model is none other than the virus.

The story continues...