Baal said:
Even without complete lockdowns too many people chafe at the slightest measures that could reduce the impact of this, like being asked to wear face coverings.
I agree with Baal's observation and opinion on this to a very large degree. Baal, you will recall, I think it was somewhere near Houston, where a certain judge issued an order for everyone over 10 yrs old to wear a face covering or face $1,000 USD fine, then later, the Fraternal Order of Police made public a letter opposing that for reasons they stated.
Many Americans do not have a sense of community, cooperation or working together collectively as a nation right now. It is almost a natural evolution that those under pressure of destitution and death and hunger, work hard, work together as a family unit, and overcome mostly, but later generations not under this pressure are not so willing to work and will take handouts over working hard for it.
There may be reasons of other law enforcement priorities being more important, but if there is a communicated reason (reduce spread) for a temporary timeframe (a few weeks) and it is not a mission impossible in terms of real world difficulty or financial terms to do this (you can make a face covering out of an existing clean sock by cutting it a certain way of you do not wish to spend a few dollars on materials and use your own sewing machine or hand needle/thread)…
So it is there, reason, short timeframe, not a large infringement on rights, not a financial burden or excessive emotional/physical burden... but we basically have a lot of American cry and pout over it.
Dude, USA, be what Americans are supposed to be and work together on this in a little more united fashion than what we are doing.
Baal said:
As for lockdowns, especially in densely populated areas you need to keep the rate of new infections at a level where it doesn't overwhelm hospitals and their various resources.
These areas present a tougher challenge as there are more chances for more people more quickly to touch the virus or it to tough them. A lockdown, USA style, doesn't really do much effect in an area like this. There are still too many people doing life business touching too many things and getting touched by virus for it to really work well.
The two realistic approaches are to
... immediately isolate away from population who is infected (you need widely available tests that can produce immediate results reliably for this and a strong enforcement system with everyone committed)
... lock EVERYTHING down except police enforcement and first responders of medical/fire. Critical services must be at work 24/7 and live where they work. (much like a fire dept - they have figured it out) Citizen must flag down an officer and speak at length to communicate need to go to emergency function, like go to emergency room. Emergency facilities would need on hand quantities of supplies and life sustainment for the prescribed duration, like 2 weeks. Citizens would need to keep enough water and sustainment handy for that. Advance preparedness is essential for that. Working together like that, then it would be possible to slow down a viral epidemic to avoid overwhelming a medical system.
Because in USA, a lockdown is not really a lockdown, there are too many ways to still spread at a high rate to the vulnerable, the USA style lockdown would not be totally effective in a dense urban area. Adherence to social distancing, common sense, and isolating if sick have an effect, but it isn't gunna wipe out a virus right away.
USA is not prepared physically or mentally for what is needed in emergencies, USA people act like they never saw emergencies... and that is true to a large degree. USA people all want to do what they want to do, so there are many competing things going on. USA society should not be like military total command authority for good reasons, but if the public were to have a couple years military experience like Korea and some other nations have, it goes a long way towards working instinctively for the common good in a coordinated and cooperative fashion. Military training forces people to figure out among themselves without being commanded how to work and live with each other in very challenging circumstances, USA could use a little or a lot more of that. A 2020 draft isn't gunna happen, but I just state the benefits of even a short time of service, even if the young gun complained the whole 2 yrs, that kind of fundamental military training stays with a person for a long time and has a positive effect. Without thinking, this type of person takes command of an accident scene and performs first responder tasks effectively for example. That counts for a lot.
And people need to stay the hell home when they are sick.
A very common sense approach that USA does not consistently do. This is a foundation of say Korea's approach that has helped out the situation a lot over there.
As for wearing facemasks long term, I doubt that will catch on in USA, many will not see or accept a longer term reason for this. MAYBE, if BURBERRY or LOUIS VITTON or GUCCI figure out how to captivate Americans and make them think it is distinctive and fashionable, then maybe. Still, that is the wrong reason. A face covering provides good protection vs dust, which is a threat in many places, ESPECIALLY right where I live. It provides some, not much protection vs airbourne virus, and helps reduce by a degree the airbourne spread from someone with virus.
Getting into the habit of using a face covering while walking outside or around people will take some reason and time for it to permeate in USA.