You are against the opinion of every well-respected scientist in this field. Even in the UK they wole up very recently to a certain degree when experts showed them some numbers of how many will days if they would go for their original “let’s ignore social distancing” approach. What we are doing in the US is still far from the sledgehammer and still by far not enough.
I didn’t say that social distancing should be ignored. I’m saying that I believe it’s being applied to a far greater extent than necessary to flatten the curve sufficiently.
So you know for sure that “every well-respected scientist in the field” everywhere on the planet is of the exact same opinion on this?
Perhaps we should just agree to disagree, and leave it at that.
That is based on which data ? There are many projections published about the necessary amount of social distancing and they contradict your “believe”
I for one am very happy we don’t have “every well-respected scientist in the field” running public policy everywhere on the planet.
Worked with enough PhDs in my previous life to feel this way. Don’t get me wrong, love their ideas, insight and debating them…just wouldn’t implement all their ideas.
#YoungSheldonIsAGeniusandWouldmakeAGreatPolitician-WhatCanGoWrong?
@DoctorChow & @Alkiegourmand have you ever relayed the death of an employee on the job to their loved ones?
Btw we are likely to eclipse S. Korea’s case count by tomorrow
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But not the case count per 100K population.
Nobody knows how much social distancing is enough. There’s not enough data.
We won’t know for a few weeks or months, if ever, whether the SF Bay Area’s shelter-in-place approach was excessive. Unless it turns out that it wasn’t enough, which would be clear from the body count.
I agree with that, Robert.
Mean reversion - Next milestone to shoot for 
I hope we don’t reach that milestone…
S. Korea was prepared and had its act together before the outbreak, in terms of testing, so their numbers are reasonably credible (unlike ours). The CDC website says there have been 7000 cases nation-wide as of today. I think it’s likely there have been ten times that many.
NO that is #FAKENEWS ! 
President Trump says everything is perfect - test is perfect, plan is perfect! He just said yesterday he knew it was a pandemic EVEN BEFORE WHO declared a pandemic. He was just secretly gathering the troops behind the scenes to execute the perfect plan. All the equipment to battle the pandemic is warehoused in Cheyenne mountain, CO.
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Yeah, right. Of course.
Not the first rodeo for most Asian countries. Unfortunately or fortunately depending on your perspective.
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Both. It’s unfortunate that this isn’t the first time. It’s fortunate that some learned from the past and took steps to prepare for the future.
We are 9000+ cases reported as of tonight - MSNBC. Mean reversion rears its ugly head 
“Cases” doesn’t mean “severe cases”. It just means all who are known or estimated to have been infected. And don’t forget that our population is over 300 million. And that 1/10 of our population has had the flu this year before (and in addition to) the covid. But yes, coronavirus cases per day seem still to be on the rise.
By the way, there is an alternative to “flattening the curve”. The alternative is a short-term, massive infusion in hospital capacity, in a MASH sort of way, as I’ve said before.
Don’t flatten the curve. It’ll stretch this all out. Move the bar up.
Bringing in hospital ships and converting dormitories and barracks to increase bed capacity, and manufacturing huge numbers of supplies, could do that. When I read of these steps actually being taken, I think it’s a better approach than hiding under the covers.
Increase hospitalization capacity to handle the load.
Easier said than done after the fact? Sure, but not impossible.
Let’s do that and open up our restaurants again. And reboot our collective lives.
Keep rationalizing the various forms of ‘cases’ with your brilliant deductions …
yes I welcome more hospital beds in any shape or form. Unfortunately any new or present mobilization will take time…
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I’m glad you appreciate my brilliant deductions!
I didn’t think I’d need to post this link once again, but here’s the difference between “cases” and “cases”, at least for this year’s (almost epidemic, unusually severe) flu:
(Edit: It was almost epidemic in San Diego County, that is: 6.8% the last I saw, with 7% being an epidemic. I don’t know about nationally, although the CDC numbers make it look that way.)
Let’s do all the other things you mention and then consider relaxing some restrictions.
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Hear, Hear.
Yes but. I think, considering how poorly the govt (at the nationa level) has handled things I don’t think it will happen quickly.