Democratic US Senator and presidential hopeful Bernie Sanders, during a speech in Burlington, Vermont, on Thursday, suggested that the potential death toll from the COVID-19 pandemic could override the total number of armed forces casualties in World War II.
“The crisis we face from the coronavirus is on a scale of a major war, and we must act accordingly,” Sanders said. “The number of casualties may actually be even higher than what the armed forces experienced in World War II. In other words, we have a major, major crisis and we must act accordingly”.
The presidential candidate said that “we also have to face the truth”, adding that he hopes that “number will be as low as possible”.
"In terms of potential deaths...the crisis we face is on a scale of a major war...we also have to face the truth and that is that the number of casualties may actually be even higher than what the armed forces experienced in World War II." -Bernie Sanders pic.twitter.com/mMPbfcl2aT
— The Daily Wire (@realDailyWire) March 12, 2020
World War II saw the death of over 20 million soldiers worldwide, including some 400,000 deaths among US troops. The Senator did not clarify whether he meant every country or just the US.
The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimated the potential for infection by COVID-19 in the country to range between 160 million and 214 million people. The worst-case scenario US death rate was estimated be between 200,000 and 1.7 million, according to The New York Times.
Sanders’s warnings were described by some netizens as “highly irresponsible and dangerous!”.
This is highly irresponsible and dangerous!
— Nancy (@olliemamaemma) March 12, 2020
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣 I don't know whether to laugh or cry. HE IS A COMMUNIST!!
— Ameirah Rose (@AmeirahRose) March 12, 2020
This is so irresponsible for someone like this to get up here and see this crap @BernieSanders @clevelanddotcom
— Richard Bag (@DepoDouchesta) March 12, 2020
I’m glad @BernieSanders is working hard to keep the American people calm.
— Red Dot in a Blue Dot in a Red State (@reddotinaustin) March 12, 2020
World War II -
— Will McGee (@myopicmcgee) March 12, 2020
75 million deaths worldwide
60 million Allied deaths
40 million citizen deaths
20 million military deaths
15 million Axis deaths
420,000 American deaths
He is predicting 420,000 in US and 20 million around the globe.
This is one of the stupidest things I have ever heard a person say.
— Kia (@LDS310) March 12, 2020
420,000 Americans are estimated to have died in WWII ... so far Coronavirus has claimed 44 ... this is socialism math at its finest.
— CaseNotification (@CaseNotificati1) March 12, 2020
That is one of the most absurd statements he has made to date... I think Biden wrote his speech.
— Robert (@O341Marine) March 12, 2020
