| This. The only way to properly evaluate state of the pandemic is to test the whole population of a country with a test that can differentiate : - incubating phase
- illness phase
- post-illness with immunity
- fatalities linked with the pathogen Problem is that the test(s) are currently too pricey both money- and time-wise. Limiting factor here is time, because states push incredible amounts of money to save people. Furthermore, I could find no reference to assert exactly what the test tests, and its reliability (false negatives/positives) ; this was illustrated by cases of recontaminations that could be linked to incorrect tests. So now you're a state actor. You've got two choices : either, you play it low regarding extreme measures to contain the pandemic (first reaction of England), you delay measures (like most of European countries, and US), or you act swiftly (China, Korea). Challenge here is that you won't know if the measures you have taken are too harsh until it's over. Given the number of unknowns, what will you choose ? Well let's say that overwhelmed hospital personal, facing dilemnas everyday regarding who deserves to live and who deserves to die, dying themselves to fight the infections, will give you the answer. It's easy to qualify the reaction as disproportionate
when you don't have skin in the game. |