I would agree that trying to compare coronavirus with the flu via death rate is not (in the end) a useful way to understand its effect. From the first, it was the measure I tried to use for comparison as well, so I can understand why intuitively it makes sense. But death rate is not the whole story.
There are apparently lasting and significant effects from Covid-19 for many who recover which should not be ignored, so that makes simple death rate too limited an understanding.
As far as masks leading to tracking devices, I find this to be conspiracy-theory nonsense. As others gave said, we already HAVE tracking devices, that we pay for willingly and don’t want to be without.
But any attempt to assign a nefarious intent to masks undermines the willingness of many to wear them at all. I find this to be dangerous and irresponsible, since now many people are protesting wearing them ever in any situation, and that puts people at risk because masks can decrease transmission rates. This is the worst effect among people’s thinking that I often see on social media.
I think I’ve had it too. A student returned from Korea and immediately got very sick in February, and I spent time taking care of her, very much breathing her exhalations, and I got very sick directly after. It lasted for weeks, and at the worst I was just about to go to the ER because I had so much trouble breathing, but got a little better. I just recently noticed I could smell things again (I normally have a very sensitive ability to smell) and that has come out as another effect of coronavirus. However, I also still have some minor problems with breathing that are ongoing, and I have discovered that my resting heart rate has increased by an alarming rate - I’m going to get checked out. (It may just be stress from the general state of things)
I’ve had the flu many times. I don’t usually remember particular episodes and they have no lasting effects. I don’t think I’ll be forgetting this one. I wish I’d had a mask in February, and wish even more my student had worn one. I wear them now every time I go out, even though it’s unlikely imo that I could infect anyone or become infected. But I could be wrong, and so for that reason I consider wearing the mask to be a reasonable precaution.
