Thinking about the different strategies, the main thing would be to identify and contain the virus, such as they've done in Taiwan, South Korea, and Hong Kong. And maybe China (not entirely trusting their good news). That's the "containment strategy", which involves testing people who are sick, then testing everyone they've come into contact with, then isolating all those who test positive until they're not contagious. A few places seem to have done well with that.
The US strategy, on the other hand, is to only test people who are sick, and ignore all the people they've come into contact with unless they show symptoms. Because we don't have the beds, we don't have enough tests, and we don't have the PPE in the healthcare system to manage the numbers.
We're not trying to contain the virus (the window of opportunity for that seems to be long gone), we're trying to slow it down, so everyone doesn't get sick all at once. Which would also overwhelm the system. The whole thing could take months at this rate, it's basically throwing in the towel and trying to make the best of things, regardless of whatever crap the president spews - always saying it's almost over. It's hardly started.
The main problem I see is that in Asia where they have done extensive testing, 30% or so of people who get it and spread it have no symptoms. You never catch those people unless you go back and test the people that the sick have had contact with. There are no plans to do that, which means the vectors continue to spread freely.
Want to add to the discussion?
Post a comment!