10ofRods
Verified Anthropologist
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WP opinion piece by Dr. Wen:
As the pandemic surges, there are three scenarios of what happens next
First one (do whatever it is we're doing right now) is probably what will happen. In the 100 days from end of July until Hallowe'en, we'd have an additional 100,000 deaths. If the projections are correct for the struggling states, it could be more. With more people indoors from Nov 1 onward, there's no reason to expect the status quo to change until overall infection rates go up. Sweden's studies of a large positive population say that immunity probably lasts for 6 months, perhaps longer in some people.
So...we just go along like this, with radically altered social and economic dynamics and millions unemployed. There's never any indoor dining as long as CoVid is still moving around in the population. ????
Obviously, we need to do scenario 2. Even if it were state by state, each state should do it. But, to me, that means radically changing what is considered "essential" work. It means giving unemployment again. Examples of work that should be dramatically curtailed or shut down would include indoor grocery shopping, people moving house, food imported from out of state (yes, that would mean shortages of some things, but we would survive), all indoor cultural activities and required PPE for LE and other first responders. Testing every other day for the truly essential workers (fast response tests, cheek swabs).
Truthfully, the things that many nations have done (Australia and New Zealand come to mind immediately) would be nearly impossible in the US. For example, if people had to print out a form stating why they needed a trip to the hardware store, and then match that submitted form to what they purchased (they would have to actually purchase at least the items they stated) or a piece of paper stating they had an actual medical appointment...Americans won't do it, they will rebel.
In California, some counties would comply and some wouldn't. And I don't think it has to do with how many CV they've already had - it's something else.