Trump's goal of sending people back to work early is reckless

[Zorro]

When the 18-deck cruise liner Diamond Princess returned to Japan on Feb. 3, it had already made six stops in three countries. One passenger had departed in Hong Kong, with symptoms of the new coronavirus, confirmed by tests on land. Japanese authorities eventually tested all 3,711 passengers and crew, and discovered that, of the 712 people with positive test results, 331 of them were asymptomatic, or had no symptoms, at the time of testing.

The finding, included in a report from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday, points to a significant challenge in managing a response to the pandemic. When the virus lodges in the upper respiratory tract, people may not show any symptoms for days, even as they may transmit the virus to others. A preliminary study in China of infected people who came to Chongqing from Wuhan showed that 18 percent were asymptomatic, including about a quarter of children and the elderly. This is not out of line with what is seen in cases of influenza, an endemic disease that returns over and over again, but the coronavirus is much more lethal. The fact that many people may be carrying the coronavirus and not yet feel its symptoms should give pause to everyone thinking about the months ahead.

President Trump has declared that people “want to return to work,” and he is eager to reopen the U.S. economy. He said this can happen soon while people maintain precautions such as social distancing. “We can do two things together.” But what if a colleague in the office or the worker on the assembly line is asymptomatic, carrying the virus and potentially shedding it? What if returning to normal reignites a virus explosion? How does anyone make sure that everyone by the water cooler is already recovered, or not infected?

Going back to work too soon is reckless. More time is needed to break chains of transmission. But at some point, return is inevitable. Until a vaccine or drug therapy is found, tested and manufactured, getting back to normal will become a complex social, medical, economic and political problem. The planning should start now, while there is time. A vast increase in testing is mandatory. Hospital-bed capacity will be a major bottleneck and must be alleviated. We will need more ventilators and protective masks.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/global-opinions/trumps-goal-of-sending-people-back-to-work-early-is-reckless/2020/03/24/dba96d66-6df7-11ea-a3ec-70d7479d83f0_story.html

[Rorey]

1. It's like taking off the condom at the beginning of sex

And then being shocked when something happens because of it.

[jimfields33]

2. According to worldometer,

We had five deaths yesterday. I think that’s much lower then previous days. New York had zero. California had 4 and Arizona had 1. 18 days is a lifetime from now.

[Phoenix61]

3. This is where a fast anti-body year comes in handy.

There was a post several days ago about one that takes 10 minutes. https://www.biospace.com/article/releases/biomerica-begins-shipping-samples-of-10-minute-test-for-covid-19-virus-exposure-/

[Hoyt]

4. He knows Easter is too early.Two days ago, he was going to "reopen"

next week. I really don’t have a problem with aggressive goals, when he’s already pushing things back.

[Harker]

6. I do.

I suspect he chose Easter to appeal to his Christian supporters, planting in their minds an association of himself with their beliefs of a resurrection. Hence, "a beautiful timeline."

His "feeling good about" things is enough to drastically raise my level of skepticism.

We need intelligent, reasoned leadership, not wishful thinking and cheerleading.

[marble falls]

7. He knows it but it doesn't fit into his world view, so he's consciously 'unknowing it'.

[Texaswitchy]

5. He is scared now.

He knows it is over for him.

He has been exposed.