It’s impossible to quarantine the US. It’s scary impossible. The first cases was our opportunity and our only chance at nipping the bud. This has to flush.
Why would it be impossible ? I doubt it´s civil rights remembering after the Boston bombings the US army searching house by house pointing a machine gun at the person who answered the door. Size is more of an issue, but in Europe we already have Italy, France (since this evening I heard) and Spain in quarantine, that´s a bit over 150 million people, and more countries might follow. Wondering how UK will fare, interested in their collective immunity idea ( I didn´t try to isolate the kids, we tried to invite several of their friends living nearby after the schools were closed while it was recommended yet not forced upon kids to stay home and none of the parents let their kids out). Wondering how the people will be feeling after a few weeks like this, and what kind of absurd patriotic claim the Stayathome fans will come up with, my favourite so far being : "Teenagers cry at the idea of staying in quarantine 2 weeks ( wishful thinking it won´t be extended) to protect their grandparents while those grandparents were given a gun and sent to fight the nazis. Those dudes seem to have a very vague understanding of the local recent history...
Btw, serious advice, if anyone was thinking of getting a dog, now is the time, at least it is legal to take the dog out for a walk. Some people hanging out by themselves as well as in very small groups were already given 600euros and more fines (200 people yesterday, over 250 today, only in Madrid, 5 were arrested). And apparently more of them were only warned so far. Besides the fine, which is very high considering the wages here, it is very upsetting to be harassed by the police for being out by yourself, allegedly for public health reasons.
Have you looked at the curve of the spread? I get your point but this is not just another flu. I mean if you're going to go that far then why bother with any vaccines at all. Let's just get measles and be fine with it
Media induced panic "In total, the CDC estimates that up to 42.9 million people got sick during the 2018-2019 flu season, 647,000 people were hospitalized and 61,200 died. That’s fairly on par with a typical season, and well below the CDC’s 2017-2018 estimates of 48.8 million illnesses, 959,000 hospitalizations and 79,400 deaths." https://time.com/5610878/2018-2019-flu-season/ Nice how the above uses the word "sick" instead of "infected". Also it is not explained well that the reason that the number of people who are exhibiting symptoms is not some mysterious force but it is just that more people are being tested. Lastly, much is said about not enough testing kits. It is not the kits. It is how the extract has to be tested. It is not a simple stick the paper in and if it turns blue you are sick. "The current method looks for the virus’s genetic material (RNA) in a patient’s cells. In order to detect the presence of RNA in the patient’s sample, labs perform a test called reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. This method first converts any viral RNA to DNA. Then the DNA is replicated millions of times until there are enough copies to detect using a specialized piece of equipment called a quantitative PCR instrument." A much quicker method needs to be developed.
The problem isn't so much with the quarantine, but with the unidentified Corona incubators who will unknowingly spread the virus to the masses. Hence, the need for a shutdown.
I suppose not many among you folks listen to the No Agenda talks by Adam Curry and John Dvorak. To them, it just like common cold. This virus is dangerous to those with medical condition and aged. Some need intensive medical care. If the spread is not controlled, it will overwhelm the medical system. The economic activities is being held back by all the virus containment measures, pumping money into the economy isn't helping. But it's the only thing they can do. Indeed, China didn't act fast enough in the beginning. Saying is one thing, but doing is a different ball game.