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Originally Posted by Maruzo
A joint strategy doesn't mean every state uses the exact same strategy for infection prevention. I'm sure it'll be revised according to each state's particular needs due to their own unique geographic, demographic, and other variables and considerations.
But there should be some basic rules that will apply across the board, for instance the requirement to wear masks when in public, making Purell or equivalent available for all meetings or at access points and keeping 6 ft apart, etc, especially when the interaction is across statelines.
I'm certainly no expert but I have been waiting thus far without joy to see some concrete and thoughtful plan to open the economy from the federal level .
As for the exact duration for implementing the stay at home order, this is certainly not an easy question to answer.
Stay home too long and you won't have an economy to go back to, stay too short and you risk expanding an ever increasing infected population.
"Hammer and dance", is probably a good approach. You "tiptoe", or open the economy in a limited fashion while maintaining all prevention measures available, and see what happens. If the infection rate goes up, you bring down the hammer (the stay home mandate).
It's not going to be a smooth transition. There's going to be a lot of start and stop. But it might just be the new norm that brings us control over our lives and over this nasty virus.
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Okay, at least we have some common ground to build on then. We agree a 100% unilateral approach for the US will not work. We agree some measures should be unilateral, masks, social distancing, etc. But remember, the gov't (or Trump) doesn't have the authority to order those things. They can only make recommendations. It can be argued which points Washington has failed on recommending. Example, I said I thought masks should be worn from the very beginning regardless of what the WHO, CDC, and Washington were recommending. That was a measure meant to try to keep supply for health care workers. Which, it can be argued are hurt more by not having the populous wear masks preventing infection. But that's another issue.
All of those things above have been mandated by our city mayor and county judge in San Antonio regarding moving around the city. Masks, social distancing, etc. I wish they would also add limiting shopping parties to 1 member of the family if 2 adults are present. No reason to have 2 parents and all the kids (however few or many that may be) doing the shopping. But that's how it goes, no policy or policy maker is ever going to be perfect.
But what business owners and the working class are upset about is that gov't is restricting their right to operate and actually pay their bills. They would be happy to institute any measure to try and ensure their patrons' safety via masks, social distancing, etc. but haven't even been given that option. I'm all for shutting down any business being irresponsible. Surely you can see their the situation from their point of view? Imagine waking up everyday knowing that the 1st of next month is coming around and you will have bills to pay. You haven't worked in a month + and even if you have savings built up, you worked for who knows how many years to build that. You might be dipping into your retirement, or kids' college funds, or worse you might be using your food budget to pay your rent or mortgage, utilities, etc.
No one was upset for the first 40 days as everyone understood an initial assessment had to be made. "How bad is this thing?" "Do we have enough supplies built up?" "Are there any treatments?" And the list goes on and on as this was a completely unknown virus. Well it's been 6 weeks, we now know (generally) a mortality rate, what age groups and populations are most vulnerable, etc. We are not anywhere near capacity in most health care locations. So supplies are available should there be a spike from a limited opening. What I'm saying, and I think a few of the others are saying, is that we are now knowledgeable enough about this to start trying to move towards getting back to earning a living for ourselves and our families. If you have the means, and the desire, staying at home will still be an option for those who are fortunate enough to be unaffected by a stay at home order.