Dr. Eric Ding is an epidemiologist who has been covering this situation since the beginning, he's been very level headed but also calls things out when there is a lack of proper process. He's done a podcast interview and it's a pretty good summary of the current situation, if anyone is interested:
https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podca...ic-is-inevitable/id1438148082?i=1000466793429
Some key points:
- Seems likely that most people will get it eventually (in months, maybe years) - some experts estimate 40-70% of the world population. Most will probably be fine, but the real challenge is the strain on the healthcare system (I recognize that there are immunocompromised and elderly people and I don't mean to minimize that, I'm just quoting him). We don't have enough beds, masks, protective gear
- It's embarrassing that we have only tested 450 people so far, Korea is testing thousands daily and we won't reach a thousand by the end of the month
- Testing needs to be free, otherwise poor people will go undetected and keep spreading
- No need to panic, since a lot of people will get it there isn't much to do avoid it. Just exercise hygiene, be prepared with supplies in case you need to work from home or quarantine yourself. Be cautious and measured, but don't panic. Panic leads to chaos. There is no need to fear this if you know that you are probably going to get it. The key focus should be on putting pressure on the government to respond intelligently and slowing the spread to reduce the strain on the system.
- It's more contagious and deadly than the flu, but not the end of the world. Many people have immunity to the flu either through living through it or vaccines, so the public is more susceptible to this.
- Tests aren't perfect, sometimes a person can test negative if they have a small amount of the virus in their system, and it can get reactivated later on under circumstances like stress. Cases that seem to relapse are likely people who weren't fully cured to begin with.
- Worldwide case numbers likely vastly underreported. USA will likely start taking it more seriously when someone dies on US soil
- Masks aren't perfect but they do prevent some droplets from being passed around to others if you're sick
www.theatlantic.com
