Comments by "Dale Crocker" (@dalecrocker3213) on "US and Europe, increases" video.

It has crossed my mind that the new strain might be the direct result of lockdown and other measures. If the spread is reduced then surely a strain which spreads more quickly and efficiently will survive and prosper? If someone could shoot this disturbing notion down in flames I would be very grateful.
6
@mjwilliamsb2676 Thank you. The only reservation I have is that, in terms of competition, any variant which already exists and which already has a more efficient and faster-acting system of transmission might well become more successful in a situation where the number of available hosts is reduced compared to previously. The fact that it actually exists might outweigh the fact that reducing the number of people infected will prevent the arrival of future variants in terms of overall impact. If for example there had been no form of restriction would it not be true that these inevitable variations would either have occurred long ago or would not have occurred at all since earlier forms would have infected all those liable to be infected? I cannot in my own mind determine whether or not this latter course of action would have resulted in more or less fatalities and serious hospitalisations. I suppose it must depend on how many potential subjects of serious outcomes are available. Sorry to burble on. I'm just thinking out loud really!
1
@mjwilliamsb2676 Thanks again. I fully realise that the virus has no evil intent and that in fact the less damage it does to hosts the more it can reproduce. I think I'm right in saying that while viruses do generally mutate into less virulent forms there have been some influenzas which have turned out more deadly second or third time around. Fingers crossed!
1