While More Get Infected with COVID-19, Fewer Need Ventilators, Here's Why
As of this writing, more than 4.5 million active COVID-19 cases have been recorded worldwide. Among those, more than 57,000 are reported critical or severe cases, with approximately 1.5 percent of them, going through treatment with ventilators.
More than three months ago, there were only over 200,000 active cases globally, five percent of which was reported critical.
To date, more people are reportedly infected, although a lower percentage of these people require treatment through a ventilator, and this makes many people in the world wonder why.
The Virus Slowly Becoming Less Deadly
One of the reasons more and more people are getting infected with the virus, but fewer patients need ventilators is, maybe because the virus is slowly becoming less deadly.
This assumption was raised during the outbreak's first days. The finding indicates that, until today, the virus is not mutating, at least not in a significant manner.
According to infectious diseases clinic head, Professor Matteo Bassetti, from Italy's Policlinico San Martino Hospital, COVID-19 had downgraded from being what he described as "a tiger to a wild cat."
Bassetti added that in May, compared with the other month and in March this year, the virus's severity has changed and that even older adult patients between 80 and 90 years of age are now seated in bed, breathing minus all the help.
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The Weather Contributing to the Virus's Slowing Down
This has been a consistent subject of arguments for months now. Specifically, assumptions on the advantages of using Vitamin D for treatment, or proof of clusters primarily taking place in cold climates, all ignited a favorable perception that COVID-19 could die during summer.
A study has yet to come out to affirm that summer season or sunshine can cause the infection to deteriorate to a certain level that a higher pathological load is required to prompt a severe condition. This, the said research indicates, is still questionable, though.
On the contrary, other researchers claim they find no association or connection between the spread of the said virus and certain weather conditions.
In some parts of the globe like the Middle East for one, the same researchers said, a spike in cases has been reported amid the onset of the hot season. Therefore, it is probable that warm weather could be making the virus more dangerous.
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Ventilators not Effective in all Cases of the Pandemic
Another reason could be that a ventilator is not effective in all cases of COVID-19. As there is no proven medicine yet, that's effective in fighting the virus, what's undoubtedly impacting the number of patients who require ventilators is developing a procedure for treatment.
Over time, as new information was collected, and with familiarity, the question on the necessity of ventilators have started emerging.
Studies showed that a lot of people ended up dying despite the treatment they received. Some COVID-19 patients, according to reports, had gone quite far that ventilators harmed them more, instead of helping them.
Reports also indicated that some of the patients have developed a reliance on the ventilator and found it quite more challenging to prevent mechanical ventilation. This could then lead to chronic respiratory problems.
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