It is pretty clear that most states in the U.S. are on the path to maintain a lockdown for 60 days before doing a phased re-opening in stages. This path follows the best advice from medical and public health experts. There are some states like Georgia which are outliers and are opening swiftly. The governor there was criticized very openly by President for his plans.
As long as they carry their phones with them, we can put the at the bottom of the list and prioritize those who stayed home when it comes to allocating hospital beds.
Hospitals are mostly empty. We are past the "curve flattening" needed to prevent the medical system from being overwhelmed. Now its a balance between public safety and getting the economic burners re-lit. Decisions henceforth must only consider the greater good. The vast majority of the population is being harmed to protect a handful of people, classic liberal modus operandi. If NYC has an acute problem I suppose they can stay locked down but the rest of the country has had enough. This is self-correcting though in my view. Dem governors are risking being run out of their own states and the voters are going to remember who tried to prolong their pain.
In over half the states the number of cases and hospitalizations are increasing each day. We are not at the peak yet in these states. The timeframe of ending a lockdown must be driven by two factors in a state: The cases being past the peak and in a clear decline. The availability of proper COVID-19 testing and contact tracing in the state.
The first point makes sense to me. The second point is problematic. Take Las Vegas, for instance. Not a stretch to say that contact tracing is nigh impossible in a town based on tourism. We're punishing 350 million people when many of them face extremely low risk. The risk to the economy is not worth the reward of a few less deaths. As I've said, I'm glad I do not have to make the decision but it must be made nonetheless. You don't destroy the lives and future of 350 million people to protect a few thousand. Its harsh but welcome to Earth.
Germany has 83 million people with wide-scale testing and full Contact Tracing. They upheld as an example of a proper response to COVID-19. They are now in stages where they are re-opening the country. If a western nation of 83 million million can do full Contact Tracing then certainly Vegas and the United States can do full Contact Tracing.
367 dead today in NY. Curve not only flattened but in steep and steady decline. What's missing is an acceptable number of dead. No political types with the guts to give that number and without a number there is no real target for reopening. Cynical types might think that's just how they want it while they shift to the we must test everyone before it's safe narrative.
The U.S. personal economic impact of the pandemic... Unemployment from the pandemic has more consequences for minorities, experts say https://www.wral.com/unemployment-f...equences-for-minorities-experts-say/19072765/ With millions of people out of work, countless businesses are experiencing financial uncertainty. Research reveals this uncertainty is even more acute for minorities. Data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics shows that minority groups are more likely to work in low-wage jobs, which are vulnerable to layoffs during the coronavirus pandemic. (More at url)
So what is the path to reopening? It can't just be 60 days. That's meaningless if the rate of infection is still up. It must be tied to rate of infection and that number must then be tied to true mortality rate, and then that number be linked to specific groups at risk. No point in keeping everyone home if the overwhelming majority at true risk of death are old and sickly. Maybe it's testing. Okay, how many tested? 35 million people is only ten percent. Is that enough. I would think at least a third would be required. How the heck do we test 100 million plus and how long does that take? Lastly, we must assume no matter whay we do there will be a spike shortly after reopening. What's an acceptable run up in numbers? Meanwhile tens of millions will be losing jobs and businesses. What exactly is the tipping point where we've done irreparable damage to our economy? We need lines in the sand and no political type will do that, and with good reason. It's political suicide considering the media destruction team will go full blast accusing that person of putting jobs before lives no matter how low that number would be