Covid-19
If the United States had a "mom", she would order the whole country to quarantine itself, as much as possible, without compromising the general welfare of society. For 2 weeks, all events are canceled, all restaurants closed, schools closed, but there would be special precautions for places that stay open. This would require an investments from the government of extraordinary means, similar to a war situation. Business would be required to help, at the full discretion of the Health Department. The army would be mobilized and stock markets closed. The government would shift resources as needed to make this happen. Congress's main job would be to review and monitor this plan and its spending (and nothing else)
- Not everything would stop. Supermarkets would be open, but everyone would be required to put on new gloves when entering. When available, people (who are tested for Covid daily) will prepare online orders and delivery it directly to houses. Amazon already has an system for doing this and should be utilized. Post office workers can help and mail limited to 2 times a week.
- Any business could be open as long as they don't have customers enter the store or line up outside their store (items can be shipped or picked up on a schedule). Staff for this would be extremely limited to a small number of people, and only people that are otherwise quarantined.
- Workers in industries that produce necessary goods, can continue to work. When possible, extra shifts will be added to people don't have to be around each other as often. Utilities, like power companies, phone/internet, medications, and water would all stay open with essential personal only, Long-term necessities, like car production, will just have to shut down.
- All travel into this country, from non-citizens, would be frozen. All citizens can come back, but would have to be separately quarantined. All travel within the country would be limited as much as possible.
- There would be a standard of care package delivered to any home with symptoms (delivered by post office and the military). Hospitals will be left for those in urgent care (recently retired doctors can be called back into service, as well as private nurses). If needed, there can be online classes to train emergency nurses or other hospital staff (assuming the worse).
- We would need to start preparing for the best case scenario if which we open up travel into the US from other countries. We would need to develop a way of safely testing everyone.
- A commission of the leading scientist will create a Manhattan Project to develop a vaccine. All healthcare/medical organizations, universities, and facilities would be "required" to participate. Failure to do so, will lead to the loss of their business licences and forfeiture off all assets (details for this need to be worked out). Expenses for staff and facilities that are required to participate will be reimbursed. If discovered, the ways of producing the vaccine will be free shared with the entire world, because it is the right thing to do.
- All internet, phone, and streaming services would be made free to everyone in the country for this time.
Basically, we would destroy the economy for 2 weeks and lower the quality of life of everyone for the near future. Long-term economic issues could be significant. After two weeks, everyone with the virus would be over it or in the hospital. We would be able to reset the system. After two weeks (if science believes that is the current time), normal activities will re-open. Travel into the country would still be restricted (until a test can be given to each new person arriving).
The Pros: This would stop the worst case scenario, which is that hundreds of thousands of people are infected (if not millions), the hospital system is overrun, and the government has to do this kind of shutdown anyway (but in a much worse position).
The Cons: This would be extremely expensive, highly disorganized, could have serious long-term negative effects on our economy, and might be completely unnecessary. We find find a vaccine before it spreads badly, or current measures will somewhat contain the virus until it becomes less contagious in the summertime (science on this is not known).
A mother would say that we should do it, screw the costs and inconveniences. If we don't have our health, we don't have anything.
What would you do? What should we do.
What if we knew it was seasonal? What if the fatality rate was slightly higher. What is kids were getting sick? At one point to you take 500 steps back to stop a chance of 5,000 steps back.
- Not everything would stop. Supermarkets would be open, but everyone would be required to put on new gloves when entering. When available, people (who are tested for Covid daily) will prepare online orders and delivery it directly to houses. Amazon already has an system for doing this and should be utilized. Post office workers can help and mail limited to 2 times a week.
- Any business could be open as long as they don't have customers enter the store or line up outside their store (items can be shipped or picked up on a schedule). Staff for this would be extremely limited to a small number of people, and only people that are otherwise quarantined.
- Workers in industries that produce necessary goods, can continue to work. When possible, extra shifts will be added to people don't have to be around each other as often. Utilities, like power companies, phone/internet, medications, and water would all stay open with essential personal only, Long-term necessities, like car production, will just have to shut down.
- All travel into this country, from non-citizens, would be frozen. All citizens can come back, but would have to be separately quarantined. All travel within the country would be limited as much as possible.
- There would be a standard of care package delivered to any home with symptoms (delivered by post office and the military). Hospitals will be left for those in urgent care (recently retired doctors can be called back into service, as well as private nurses). If needed, there can be online classes to train emergency nurses or other hospital staff (assuming the worse).
- We would need to start preparing for the best case scenario if which we open up travel into the US from other countries. We would need to develop a way of safely testing everyone.
- A commission of the leading scientist will create a Manhattan Project to develop a vaccine. All healthcare/medical organizations, universities, and facilities would be "required" to participate. Failure to do so, will lead to the loss of their business licences and forfeiture off all assets (details for this need to be worked out). Expenses for staff and facilities that are required to participate will be reimbursed. If discovered, the ways of producing the vaccine will be free shared with the entire world, because it is the right thing to do.
- All internet, phone, and streaming services would be made free to everyone in the country for this time.
Basically, we would destroy the economy for 2 weeks and lower the quality of life of everyone for the near future. Long-term economic issues could be significant. After two weeks, everyone with the virus would be over it or in the hospital. We would be able to reset the system. After two weeks (if science believes that is the current time), normal activities will re-open. Travel into the country would still be restricted (until a test can be given to each new person arriving).
The Pros: This would stop the worst case scenario, which is that hundreds of thousands of people are infected (if not millions), the hospital system is overrun, and the government has to do this kind of shutdown anyway (but in a much worse position).
The Cons: This would be extremely expensive, highly disorganized, could have serious long-term negative effects on our economy, and might be completely unnecessary. We find find a vaccine before it spreads badly, or current measures will somewhat contain the virus until it becomes less contagious in the summertime (science on this is not known).
A mother would say that we should do it, screw the costs and inconveniences. If we don't have our health, we don't have anything.
What would you do? What should we do.
What if we knew it was seasonal? What if the fatality rate was slightly higher. What is kids were getting sick? At one point to you take 500 steps back to stop a chance of 5,000 steps back.
Comments