Pandemic Worse Than Winnie the Flu

For John, BLUF:  I am being super-cautious about COVID-19, but realize there are other, more serious, killers out there.  Nothing to see here; just move along.

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Overdose deaths far outpace COVID-19 deaths in San Francisco

From The San Francisco Gate! by Associated Press, 19 December 2020.

Here is the lede plus one:

A record 621 people died of drug overdoses in San Francisco so far this year, a staggering number that far outpaces the 173 deaths from COVID-19 the city has seen thus far.

The crisis fueled by the powerful painkiller fentanyl could have been far worse if it wasn't for the nearly 3,000 times Narcan was used from January to the beginning of November to save someone from the brink of death, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Saturday.

I blame the Republicans.  The last Republican Mayor, George Christopher, left office in January 1964.  Then what?  All Democrats, as Blogger Ed Driscoll points out.

This little data point also suggests there is a lot we don't know about the public health tradeoffs involving COVID-19.

Hat tip to the InstaPundit.

Regards  —  Cliff