No I've not changed my opinion. If anything recent events have reinforced my opinion.
https://imgur.com/a/tH61SGX
If numbers are being added to the coronavirus death toll of those that haven't even tested positive then the legitimacy of the coronavirus death toll numbers are gone. *Let me be clear that I'm in no way saying people aren't dying to the coronavirus just that the numbers can't be trusted* Here's another link to the NYT reporting on the death toll in New York going up by the thousands after they included those that were "presumed" to have died of COVID but were never tested:
https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/14/n...0uofkK7Dl5lgbM
Another factor that has been hit on here are the death total projections that went from astronomically high to now in the 60k range -
https://covid19.healthdata.org/united-states-of-america
I realize a main defense for that has been the social distancing put in place but I like some others on here believe that this virus has been here for some time maybe even as early as December but of course this paragraph and even the link (death projections) are all speculation and we can argue this to death. We'll just have to agree to disagree on this one.
I read a post by Hacker earlier that responded to one of the others mentioning the coronavirus deaths and numbers being misleading where he said (I'm paraphrasing so forgive me Hacker if it's not completely accurate), "If someone has COVID but is murdered then that death will go down as a murder." It should but I don't believe even that is as clear cut. While not a murder per say you may or may not be aware of the 6 wk old baby that died in CT a little while back and the governor and media were sensationalizing the child's death as the "youngest victim to succumb to COVID19." Later it was claimed the death was due to accidental suffocation by the caretaker but more specifics weren't released out of "sensitivity to the parents." The child tested positive for the coronavirus postmortem and the governor and media ran with it. Either way the coroner has yet to rule and the governor has walked back his statements.
https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/art...icut-baby.html
https://www.dailywire.com/news/viral...MOB8FaxpGR9beU
Our hospitals here are operating with very low patient census and I live and work in a bigger city. I realize that due to elective surgeries and what not being for the most part delayed until further notice play a large part in this but we were also preparing for a large surge in COVID patients which while we have a few positives it's nothing like we prepared for (Good thing). The bad part is that nurses are being laid off. Last I heard the number we laid off here recently was around the 800 mark but that was last week and that's one hospital. I have friends saying the same thing about their hospitals in other states. A hospital in OK City just closed and only left the ER and some outpatient areas open. Many nurses were laid off. I also speak with several that travel nurse and a few that were in the process of going to New York. I actually looked into it as well since it paid north of $10,000 a week. That was about two or so weeks ago I believe and now those contracts to NY are being cancelled (these were mostly 13 week contracts). It's not just New York contracts being cancelled but Cali, Wash, LA some of the hardest hit areas that were begging for help all of sudden no longer need nurses. I'm grateful to still have a job but to be fair I wouldn't be surprised if I was looking for a new one at some point. Here I was thinking that by going into the medical field I'd never have to worry about job security.
https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/...ff/5102320002/
Your statement that other nurses would be disgusted by my opinions of the media and it's role during this difficult time is painting with a very broad brush. It's akin to saying since I support one candidate then all supporters of the other would hate me. No I know many that more or less are of the same mindset. While some may not be as extreme you'd be surprised. Of course there's those that would vilify my standing and I know them and avoid talking about it around them. Just like anything else.
*Btw the highlighted portion of your comment is a lie.* I won't repost your comment saying I don't because you should know what you said.