Is our fight against Corona Virus worse than the disease itself
We routinely differentiate between two kinds of military action: the inevitable carnage and collateral damage of diffuse hostilities, and the precision of a “surgical strike,” methodically targeted to the sources of our particular peril. The latter, when executed well, minimizes resources and unintended consequences alike.
As we battle the coronavirus pandemic, and heads of state declare that we are “at war” with this contagion, the same dichotomy applies. This can be open war, with all the fallout that portends, or it could be something more surgical. The United States and much of the world so far have gone in for the former. I write now with a sense of urgency to make sure we consider the surgical approach, while there is still time.
Outbreaks tend to be isolated when pathogens move through water or food, and of greater scope when they travel by widespread vectors like fleas, mosquitoes or the air itself. Like the coronavirus pandemic, the infamous flu pandemic of 1918 was caused by viral particles transmitted by coughing and sneezing. Pandemics occur when an entire population is vulnerable — that is, not immune — to a given pathogen capable of efficiently spreading itself.
Immunity occurs when our immune system has developed antibodies against a germ, either naturally or as a result of a vaccine, and is fully prepared should exposure recur. The immune system response is so robust that the invading germ is eradicated before symptomatic disease can develop.Importantly, that robust immune response also prevents transmission. If a germ can’t secure its hold on your body, your body no longer serves as a vector to send it forward to the next potential host. This is true even if that next person is not yet immune. When enough of us represent such “dead ends” for viral transmission, spread through the population is blunted, and eventually terminated. This is called herd immunity.
[link:https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/20/opinion/coronavirus-pandemic-social-distancing.html#click=https://t.co/0xebkqm2JV]
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Haven't seen you in a dog's age.
That is what the local paper wrote past week.
Two old and one with a chronic condition is what it said -- last to receive care due to only two ventilators and no PPE.
Genocide IMO!
and yes I am freaking out and yes I am 
and no I really don't care to die right now if I can avoid and no dump is not a leader, dump is a criminal that is killing people off as I type and he is making me quite sick! 
Article titles can even present dog-whistle dangers. I don't think we need a public attitude of "bring it on".
Reading this, one might dare get comfort from thinking this thing will gently disappear as herd immunity slips into the populace. The problem with that thinking is that epidemiologists tell us we never know the degree of herd immunity until the deed is done. So, we may not want to simply abandon all caution, let it run its course and see what happens because that recklessness could kill half the population in doing our little experiment. In addition, they tell us immunity effectiveness varies significantly between cultures and races around the globe.
The articles I've read by professionals simply say they believe this virus will eventually produce a degree of immunity in the general population but they cannot guarantee it, nor can they say how effective that may be. That's why they call it a "novel" virus because it is mostly unknown and had no track record.
Therefore, there seems to be consensus that we should test as much as possible so we better understand this outbreak and to work very hard to flatten the infection rate curve to minimize deaths and to improve the recovery quality of those who survive.
(*) Was not able to read the entire article as it requires log-in to NYT.
KY..........
We have no way to know ahead that it would work because there's no data on long-term effects from being infected (pulmonary, cardiac, etc.).
And, again we have no guarantee that effective herd immunity will develop.
This has the distinct odor of a right-wingism, set out to keep businesses open.
Being a very worried 72 YO male, I vote for the more cautious approach......
You have three lives to protect, all at high risk. I'm the only one here at 72 and high risk but my son lives here too and is pretty conscientious so far. It's those little careless slips that can get us, though. Thank goodness his college has switched to on-line classes although he missed the classroom experience.
My daughter the 5th grade school teacher with our 13 YO granddaughter is my most worrying, as I'm not convinced the SIL will be careful enough. Thank goodness schools are closed.
I just flat-out told both my kids if the virus comes into my house, I'll likely not survive. Too many lung and heart risks.
I see your big secondary challenge is keeping you and your family members from needed care for other health issues such as falls, or the flu. Please tell all to be very careful all day, every day to avoid hospital or doctor's office trips.
Thanks for the info on that author. I suspect he's a right-wing shill or simply not conscious of the danger of dog-whistle statements that our public takes seriously and may become lax in their behavior. He's also echoing what Trump has been suggesting.
KY.............
