Australia spent 300 billion in one year on the covid response, and what do we have to show for it?
We have substantially lower death rates than Florida, which has a comparable population.
Florida: 3,600,000 covid cases 56,667 deaths
Melbourne: 54,470 covid cases 913 deaths
This remains true for the rest of Australia. Unfortunately, we are in a remarkable position compared to many parts of the world.
The median covid death is 85 years old. We spent 4 million dollars to save one 85 year old person for a few more years.
Using the US dataset as an example of mortality when covid-19 is allowed to spread unrestricted in a population, 700,952 died. Only 193k were 85 and older, so the median covid death must be younger than that - in the lower end of the 74-85 age cohort where another 185k have died.
So you found one number in my argument that you dont like and that invalidates my entire point? Is that what you're saying? What number would you prefer instead of the 85? Does that change everything?
Australia’s numbers won’t match what happens when covid-19 spreads widely, because they successfully stopped it.
Yea, it does invalidate your point, the average years of life lost from a Covid-19 death is fourteen not a few as you suggested. Many, many people lost more than a decade of productive, happy life to this virus in countries where it was allowed to spread. https://www.pewresearch.org/fact-tank/2021/06/16/americans-l...
You keep quoting 300 billion, where are you getting that from?
It's like that classic Pirates vs Global Average Temperature chart[1]
[1] https://www.forbes.com/sites/erikaandersen/2012/03/23/true-f...
One is not the cause of the other, in either direction.
The US Federal Government has spent trillions on COVID related bills. Over $5.3 trillion if this[1] is to be believed.
USD$5.3 trillion / US Population = $16k/person (approx)
AUD$291 billion / AU Population = AUD$11400/person (~USD$8,300 approx)
On the face of it, we spent a whole lot less, and have had at least as good, if not a better economic outcome.
[1] https://www.pgpf.org/blog/2021/03/heres-everything-congress-...