The divergent outcomes between regions of the world is the single defining characteristic of Covid-19. For 75% of the world's population, there has been no pandemic. Even within Europe and the US, the regional variations are immense.
Just 20 nations account for 75% of total reported Covid deaths, all in W. Europe, S. America (+USA). In fact, for 85% of the world, there has been no pandemic. The impact appears entirely regional and government policy seems to have made no difference. So, what explains this?
Potential drivers of these results include: obesity rates, aged population, BCG vaccines, prior coronavirus exposure, vitamin D deficiency, nursing home policies, ventilator use, hospital access, lockdown severity. Likely all of these are necessary but not sufficient.
Add over-attribution of Covid to non-covid deaths, HVAC usage, malaria exposure (related to use of anti-virals).
Finally, add perhaps the most important driver: prior year flu severity. Essentially, there were only a handful of countries with a large enough susceptible population available to even notice the impact of this "pandemic".
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