Easing Lockdown Too Soon

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Unless someone in your family is high risk then you really don't have to worry about infecting them.

The lockdowns should end so people can work to reboot the economy again. We can continue to take the necessary precautions to avoid it and protect our loved ones. The lockdowns are restrictive and bad for the businesses that can't operate. My brother in law is spending his weekdays running his business (supplying garage equipment to the motor industry - wheel alignment etc) and keeping in touch with his clients. I think everyone who's in business should be doing this.

I know there's plenty to do at home but getting fresh outdoor air in a park or on a beach is good for morale and suddenly "out of bounds".

I think people continuing to wash their hands and use hand sanitizer, wearing masks or face coverings, continuing as much social distancing as possible when possible, not shaking hands etc will be quite effective.

And lets face it, tens of millions have been around each other in grocery stores this whole time. Plus those working hundreds thousands of essential jobs this whole time.

So it certainly was never actually a full quarantine.

People can exercise and go to parks here in NYC. I am fortunate for that.

@ envirozentinel:I know. I already break the law by walking more than 100 meters from home. I choose to maintain my sanity and breathe and get some exercise. If I become infected then I will but I am going mad being shut inside. Was it TS Elliot that said "The end of the world will come with a bang and not a whimper??" I choose to end with a bang.

You do not go gently into that good night

How on earth can they police a law that says you're breaking it if over 100 metres from home? Impossible to apply...

Our silly Police minister doesn't want people walking their dogs or going jogging. I slipped out for a cross country jog on the nearby mountain bike trails last Saturday just to get some freedom and see a few wildflowers in the reserve. On my return I went past the supermarket and it was far too full for my liking so I skipped any shopping. Running on one's own is much safer than the crowds at thew shop. I prefer to go early when I do. But my mom's so paranoid that she asked the landlady in the main house (I'm in a garden flat about two km from my mom) to keep an eye that I don't do more shopping until lockdown ends! Luckily I have plenty provisions for now.

Is there a solution that balances both?

In my view the grim reality of the situation is that the primary function of lockdown is not to save lives per se but to control the flow of admissions to hospitals. Its an exercise in ensuring adequate capacity and spreading out the number of people needing ventilation and / or dying so that services aren't overwhelmed.

If by some amazing feet you could reduce the number of infected down to 100 worldwide and then removed all restrictions then you are doing little more than resetting the clock - with that 100 infecting others then you would soon be right back where we are now.

If everyone is prepared to accept very high levels of deaths, many of which would be a result if not having a hospital bed, then all restrictions could be lifted and then bury the 50m+ dead that would probably be a consequence.

Controlling the flow wont reduce the overall number of infected that much but it will allow more to access critical care facilities and survive.

I guess that the other figures to play around with are the number of fatalities that will result form economic chaos and possible the worst depression in modern history.

The key things that will help move things forward are

1) Establishing the level of immunity (hopefully there is some) that people who have contracted it in whatever form are left with
2) A reliable and freely available anti-body test
3) A vaccine

I am of the view that the strategy of a cycle of lockdowns and eased restrictions thus managing the rate of overall (inevitable) infection is, based on our current knowledge, the best way to proceed. More are likely to survive this way.

That's my opinion, others are of course available

Stay safe

Another three weeks lockdown announced today in the UK

New York’s is until at least May 15th.

I am opposed to easing the lockdown. Lives are more important and the virus will spread uncontrollably.

They are easing it here now, and it's too early, especially in some of the cities.

It served a good purpose here - the Easter road death toll was the lowest ever! People couldn't travel anywhere and liquor stores are closed.