COVID-19 Outbreak (Update: More than 2.9M cases and 132,313 deaths in US)

Brennan77 said

I'm not suggesting that we shouldn't wear masks or that we should immediately have large gatherings. But the goal was never to be able to do so without spreading the disease. That's an unrealistic expectation. The goal was to make sure the medical infrastructure could handle an outbreak. We passed that test with flying colors and only saw a fraction of what we were told we would. We can't stay at home waiting for there to be no risk. That will literally never happen.

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Yes, but if people refuse to use masks and social distance before the stay a home order is lifted, what do you think the odds that people will do it after it is lifted? If we want to get businesses back running, it's going to take people taking steps to reduce infections or we are going to be right back in a situation where the health care system will get overwhelmed. There will be a price of human lives in choosing to open back up for business, but it can be reduced and we can maybe avoid overwhelming the health care system if people would just take simple steps to avoid as many infections as possible.

But, I don't see people taking those steps now and I don't think it will get any better so the question becomes how many lives are you willing to sacrifice to open businesses back up? It's obviously a calculus we make all the time in regards to driving cars, flying planes, etc. but it's a calculus we need to be aware of in regard to this.

And, as good a job as the citizens of New Orleans are doing in reducing infections, it won't matter in the long run if large parts of the rest of the state ignores it and spread it back to New Orleans after we open back up for business. Which is the reason for the slow phased approach. If we don't do that, we are going to end up right back her again. Likely in less than a month.