I say follow Sweden's example, open everything and let nature take its course. If you are afraid then just stay home, this isn't worth collapsing an entire economy over.

I need to feed myself and my family. My reserves will not last forever. I have never taken a Government handout in my entire life and I will not start now. I am the Captain of my destiny and I am ready to get back to work. I agree completely with you, if you are scared stay home. Let the rest of us get on with our lives.

Living here in Finland makes us very interested in how things eventually turn out in Sweden. They are a few weeks ahead on the basic infection spreading but so far they have just coped with quite small restrictions.

A couple of years ago my father in-law bought a Flowbee - for those who don't know its a rotating hair cutting device that you attach to your vacuum cleaner.

We all laughed at him when he bought it.

Nobody is laughing now, we have all borrowed it.

The swedes are a smart bunch of people, they did NOT just open up the country, and they did not shut it down in the first place. If we learn something from them, we must notice that they did not just go willy-nilly like nothing is happening. They announced safety guidelines for distancing, isolation, public space, sanitizing of objects and body, etc... And the Swedish population actually takes these measures seriously and follow guidelines. In this context, they did not feel that forcing a total shutdown would add benefit.
Unfortunately in America, the government guidelines will not be followed so cities had to come up with new offences with hefty fines to get people to pay attention to their and others well being. Any laws made for our benefit, we have to break them because "government can not be trusted," any hints to avoid large gatherings become suspect and we cry in the name of personal freedom.
I want the country to open up yesterday, but if people as I expect just go about like no care in the world we will have a worst problem than the current economic disaster.
It is not the survival of the fittest, there will be no survivors.
Again, it works for the swedes because they understand and follow guidelines.

The more information that comes out. The more I'm leaning in that direction. Sweden does have restrictions (<50 people gathered for instance) but did not close businesses. But from watching some interviews with 5 or 6 Swedes they are also a lot more considerate of their fellow citizens AND actually trust their government. Much different attitudes to Americans.

So, while I agree with Sweden's approach, it might have to be modified a bit for the States. I want to open everything up if we can count on the majority of people not being stupid. But on top of that, I worry more that the economic damage will cause more deaths than the virus through tangential causes. It's a crappy situation any way you slice it. I know that sounds like I'm waffling, but I do feel we need to get back to work ASAP. Deaths are tragic, but the alternatives could be FAR worse. This still has a very low mortality rate for most of the population.

Edit: Perrier beat me to my point.

Edit x2:. Perrier beat me to my point regarding the Swedes. But the no survivors part we diverge. Even if we all go about it regular loves as if this were the seasonal flu, the vast majority would survive by a very wide margin.

Well I don't see it quite like that. Many of the Swedes are not taking this so seriously. Only time will tell if we will look up their bravery and balls to do things differently or consider them incredibly stupid.

Well said. We are all in this together. In this game of life and death, we are only as good as our weakest link.

"there will be no survivors" hahaha, the virus has over a 98% survival rate. Too much MSNBC for you sir.

Lost me on that part too.