by Frank Thomas
The World Health Organization ( and Statista) report following pandemic data for Holland on Dec. 29, 2020 and U.S. on Dec. 30, 2020.
| HOLLAND | U.S. | EU + UK (20 countries) | |
| ConfirmedCases | 778,293 | 19,674,000 | 27,172,025 |
| Deaths | 11,218 | 338,000 | 420,000 |
| New Cases last 24 hours | 7,561 | 163,000 | |
| Population | 17.3 Mil. | 328.0 Mil. | 493.0 Mil. |
Holland's 162,000 deaths you cite includes ALL deaths of any sort, and the 13,000 more than usual total deaths is 15% higher than actual pandemic deaths.
Holland's Covid-19 pandemic deaths total 11,218. This equals 0.065% of population (17.3 million) or 648 deaths per 1 million population. The U.S. Covid-19 pandemic deaths total 338,000.This equals 1.030% of total population (328.0 million) or 1,030 deaths per 1 million population.
Holland's pandemic deaths soared from 7,195 deaths Oct. 30 to 11,218 as of Dec. 29.
That is a 56% increase from 416 deaths per 1 million population Oct. 30 to 648 deaths per 1 million population Dec. 29.
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The U.S. pandemic deaths soared from 227,753 deaths Oct. 30 to 338,000 Dec. 30. That is a 48% increase from 694 deaths per 1 million population Oct. 30 to 1,030 deaths per 1 million population Dec. 30. EU & UK pandemic deaths soared from 214,216 deaths Oct. 30 to 420,000 Dec. 30. That's a 96% increase from 434 deaths per 1 million population Oct. 30 to 852 deaths per 1 million population Dec. 30.
Note: Data for EU countries above relates to 19 EU countries plus the UK as shown in my Oct. 30 Data Report (link below)
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SUMMARY
After the ferocious rise in U.S. and EU pandemic deaths particularly in December, it's tragic to see how the U.S. is doing far, far worse in controlling absolute pandemic case and death levels than Holland and most EU countries - with notable exceptions of UK, Italy, Spain, France where death results per 1 million population reached U.S.'s level of +1,000 deaths per 1 million population Dec. 29. Unlike U.S., the EU/UK got their 1st wave peak deaths down fast in June to 445 deaths per 1 million population and kept that level low at 434 deaths per 1 million vs. U.S. doubling its death level to 694 deaths per 1 million Oct. 30. The EU/UK and U.S. must go much lower now from much HIGHER 1,000 death levels.
Accordingly, EU lockdowns, wearing of masks, distancing, avoiding large groups, and limiting family size gatherings now in operation are tougher and more universally in force in Europe than in the U.S. It is expected that European protection discipline will bring the fall-winter peak wave death levels - that hit the U.S. and EU countries so hard in November and December - sharply down much more quickly (as achieved in 1st wave) than will likely take place in the U.S. Europe also appears to be much better organized and hence on a faster path of getting at least 50%-70% of its people vaccinated by early spring.
The much faster spreading and absorption strength of the new virus variant in the current epidemic is encouraging all EU countries with +-500 million people, to get rapidly vaccinated. The new vaccines that can be easily refrigerated-cooled, and the higher density of Europe's people on a relatively small land territory compared to the U.S will also make transportation and storing logistics simpler, quicker and less costly, further facilitating a speedy distribution and vaccination process that requires two injections per person. It’s a huge problem enough to reach herd immunity by late fall 2021 without making that achievement more difficult as we continue effectively to do. Vaccinations must reach 50-60 million a month by March to reach herd immunity by Sept. 2021.
The U.S. is failing in this critical stage to get its timing, coordination and logistical act together in 50 states. This has sadly been an undisciplined, chaotic management problem we've had throughout the coronavirus pandemic period. As I write this, deaths are exploding above 350,000 just 3 days (Jan.3) after the 338,000 deaths reported Dec. 30.
