androgenoide t1_j7j3213 wrote on February 7, 2023 at 3:44 AM

Reply to comment by binary101 in (Virology) Has SARS-CoV-2 outcompeted all the other coronaviruses which have been called the ‘common cold’? by jsgui

I know. It bothers me because it seems like it should be such an easy fix to keep food workers home but it turns out to be almost impossible.

binary101 t1_j7j5tfe wrote on February 7, 2023 at 4:07 AM

I think there are several issues, it can be done but it would require massive amount of planning, which like you said would make it almost impossible.

If we look at the COVID response and past pandemics, its very sudden and catches people out and causes mass panic (everyone going out to buy toilet paper). As no one knows/knew how long the lock downs would be.

However, if we announced it beforehand, informing the public of the duration of the quarantine. Set up supply drop offs, re-assure the public that there won't be supply issues, account for basic contingencies, it could be done, but it would require an almost militaristic amount of planning and logistics.

ThisUsernameIsTook t1_j7j7whe wrote on February 7, 2023 at 4:25 AM

Isn’t that sort of what China tried to do? Human nature makes it a really hard problem to solve out in the imperfect world.

binary101 t1_j7j8aic wrote on February 7, 2023 at 4:29 AM

Not really, China just had unexpected quarantines with no info on end dates and letting the public figure out how they were going to get supplies to keep alive for the duration.