[more_corn]

Authoritarianism was not required. Just science and common sense. I recall a state department representative flying to wuhan to evacuate us citizens back to the us. No mask, shaking hands. Bro…

It became apparent early that it was a respiratory infection, but masks were resisted due to idiocy and politics.

It became apparent early on that there was a week or two incubation period.

Those two facts, had they been taken seriously, would have utterly changed the outcome.

Then again. Maybe you’re crying out against the authoritarianism of facts. It is true they can be a harsh taskmaster. They are utterly unforgiving and totally uncaring. They don’t give a shit what you believe or who’s side you are on. If you love freedom I could understand wanting to be free of facts. Let me know how that works out for ya.

[rhino369]

The science doesn't back any of that up.

Covid spread out of Wuhun very early. Once it did, all the masking and quarantining post-infection wouldn't stop it.

The few countries that did keep it under control closed their borders to keep it out and tested/traced the few infections they had to preemptively track it down. But countries that already had a nigh number of cases tried those tactics and it failed. The only country with large number of infections who got back down to Covid Zero was china, and they absolutely used authoritarian tactics.

The third world was never going to accomplish that even with authoritarian tactics.

There is no scenario where COVID doesn't become an a global pandemic once it escapes Wuhan. It's just too contagious.

[DontchaKnowit]

I think the point is that once the cat is out of the bag with a pandemic authorization measures aren't gonna fix it - so implementing them is just authoritarianism for the sake of authoritarianism

[peyton]

Emotional language aside, it was disappointing to see how ineffective the CDC was at emergency response. At their budget and with their mandate there’s really no excuse.