This virus has put us in a catch 22 situation and I don't think Trump knows how to fix it.

[shockey80]

We can slow the spread of the virus down by everyone staying home. However, this wrecks the economy.

Once we slow the virus down we can start to open the country back up. This will probably lead to another outbreak, Catch 22. I believe Singapore just opened things up and the virus started to spread again.

What we need to do and I don't think Trump can do it, or wants to do it. We need massive, consistent, testing and tracking. We need to know who has the virus, just as important we need to know who had the virus and never got sick. They could go back to work. We also need tens of millions of masks for the American people when they go back to work. The masks help people stop spreading the virus to other people. All grocery store workers should be wearing masks right now.

This virus is not going anywhere. It could take longer than 18 months to get a vaccine. We are going to have learn to do things differently until we get everybody vaccinated. I have zero faith Trump will do any of this. He believes a miracle drug is going save us.

I may be wrong, I don't think the reality of how long we are going to deal with this virus has sunk in yet. Because of Trump lies many people think this is going to be over soon. That's not what I am seeing and hearing as I listen to all the doctors and experts on TV.

[Deep State Gnostic]

1. The United States of America may not be up to the task

with something of this magnitude. Could have been, but Republicans only seem to care about white supremacy/superiority. Oh well.

[Baked Potato]

6. The United States of America is certainly up to the task.

Trump is not the USA. Republicans are not the USA. Not could have been. Millions of Americans are working together to save the country. It’s not even close to being over.

[Deep State Gnostic]

7. I'm beginning to wonder, as the country is basically under house arrest,

(sans an electronic ankle bracelet). Nothing has been done in three and a half years to stop Russia (or 300 lb guy on a couch) from manipulating our elections. Impeachment just showed the abject weakness of our Constitution. And here we are in 2020, with the country on life support, and the maniac still in charge. Maybe I'll be a little more hopeful if I don't croak from CV-19.

[Baked Potato]

9. Who cares about Russia?

My sword is starting to glow again. Danger is near.

[Tetrachloride]

2. Trump doesn't want to fix anything.

He only wants glory, power and money.

[Make7]

3. Fortunately, I think many of the decisions about how soon and how much to open up is at the state and local level.

(Perhaps unfortunately if you live in a state run by science skeptics.)

Trump can try to open things up - but many states will decide what will work for their circumstances regardless. Although, if Trump does start encouraging people to try to return to (somewhat) normal sooner than states determine they should - there will probably be that 10-25% of the population that would be inclined to believe him rather than their state and local authorities.

The states certainly need assistance from the Federal level, but I am not sure how much they are betting that they can rely on it.

[Initech]

4. It's not a question of whether he knows or not. The question is if he cares.

And the answer to that is easily no.

[4139]

5. Eventually herd immunity will tame the pandemic....

What Sweden did/is doing is risky, they went for quick herd immunity but that could overwhelm their medical system.

Flattening then curve controls the speed of the spread so the medical system does not suddenly get overwhelmed, but lengthens the curve.

[pat_k]

8. Yes. Containment is possible, but aggressive testing, tracing, and quarantine must be implemented.

It will help when we have a test for antibodies, so we can identify people who are immune and implement a convalescent plasma treatment program at every hospital.

If we take aggressive action to contain the spread, and implement effective treatment to significantly reduce the mortality rate, the next wave is manageable.

It will be up to the states. They will get no meaningful help from the Feds.

And the states should be passing funding for, and staffing up right now to mount aggressive tracing of every case identified. We also must have home testing. I know the Gates Foundation is working to implement a program for residents of Seattle. Similar programs need to be in the works in EVERY metropolitan area.