I think the important and difficult questions include: Did we start stay-at-home and other actions too late? Why? Did we act sufficiently (or half ass)? Why not? Did we end stay-at-home and other actions too soon? And why? I am guessing people will looking at these questions and more, from all angles...
I made my run to the grocery store this morning and I was pleased to see about 95% of the customers and staff were wearing masks.
I fear it's going to very closely hew to socio-economic and education levels, but would love to be wrong.
One day after reopening, Florida recorded a record number of new deaths Tuesday from the novel coronavirus, with 113 fatalities reported, including 11 in the Tampa Bay region. Florida adds 113 coronavirus deaths, a new one-day record The Sunshine State’s total death toll grows to 1,536 as it begins to reopen. https://www.tampabay.com/news/healt...-113-coronavirus-deaths-a-new-one-day-record/
I think in the case of NYC we started too late. As for is it sufficient I think there is some evidence that we did flatten the curve somewhat. For the last question I think it's pretty obvious that we're ending it to soon and even if they were in place too many people are violating the rules. Consider that several states in the last couple of weeks have been relaxing or repealing standards and we're seeing infections and deaths increasing faster.
You know, Sam, I've heard tell that... freedom isn't free. Never more true than with a high Ro viral outbreak.
I do think it is a sign of progress that we aren't hitting the worst projections but that is an very very low bar. For that matter it's still not certain we won't eventually hit the worst. If we get to 3,000 dead a day as many within the Administration are projecting within a year we will have over 1 million deaths.
Within a year... trump is only focused on November. And keep in mind, the worst projections assumed that there would be nothing done (safe distancing, masks, stay at home, business closures) at all. And unfortunately, we seem to be moving back in that direction...
So today we have over 1125 new cases in Texas so far. Opening barber shops and gyms next? https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/
https://www.economist.com/briefing/2020/04/30/the-90-economy-that-lockdowns-will-leave-behind The basic argument is if you look at countries that have largely controlled the spread of the virus (such as China and South Korea), it appears that national output will be capped at 90% of its potential because of persistent social distancing measures. There are three distinguishing features to the 90% economy: Fragile: The threat of the coronavirus returning (leading to more lockdowns) will make it nearly impossible for businesses to plan months ahead. Without long-term planning, it’s difficult to envision businesses sinking money into investment projects. Less innovative: Less face-to-face socializing = fewer opportunities for the sorts of spontaneous brainstorming sessions that lead to world-changing ideas. More unfair: As Fed Chair Jerome Powell noted last week, this economic crisis has disproportionately hurt lower-income workers. Oxford researchers found that Americans who make <$20k a year were 2x as likely to lose their job during the pandemic as an American making more than $80k.
