Quote Originally Posted by jon1959 View Post
Why is the HCID designation significant?

The number of deaths is still very high even if the death rate is (as a %) not as high as for some other lethal diseases.

Tests for infection are available (even if not in the quantities needed) and for antibodies tests may be available soon - but that is not yet making a massive practical difference to control of the disease or to relaxation of the social isolation measures that have been the major factor in suppressing the spread.

The HCID designation is just a descriptor against a set of established criteria. If Covid19 no longer had that designation in the UK it doesn't change a single fact about the way the disease has spread, killed and nearly swamped the NHS and care systems.
It's significant because it means that if you have it, you don't need to go to an HCID centre but can get treated at any health clinic. Obviously this is a sign that it's very widespread rather than it not being serious, but it's been seized on by the conspiracy theorists.