News for hackers. Stuff that matters.

A comment on Bill Gates calls for nationwide shutdown. Parent comment

Re:Bill Gates calls for nationwide shutdown by csomar on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @11:16AM (#22749515)
If the virus killed 90%, we might actually do something about it. Like having everyone in a hazmat suit and do massive testing. Everybody will be going on about their life better than. Remember that some viruses (like Smallpox) kill at 30% and the world didn't have a shutdown but actually many wars through.

But because this is an opportunity for power grab by the government they'll much better prefer to have everyone confined rather than implement sanitary procedure and do massive testing.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Bill Gates calls for nationwide shutdown by ceejayoz on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @11:45AM (#22749878)
Smallpox became endemic (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Endemic_(epidemiology)) long before fast international travel. If a disease like it emerged today (high R0 factor, high mortality) we would absolutely need a shutdown.

> Like having everyone in a hazmat suit and do massive testing.

That'd require a shutdown in order to produce enough PPE and tests. Just like we're currently experiencing.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Bill Gates calls for nationwide shutdown by iso1631 on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @12:11PM (#22750255)
> If a disease like it emerged today (high R0 factor, high mortality) we would absolutely need a shutdown.

This is what worries me. This disease isn't as bad as it could be, but will reset expectations. Go in too hard and next time, with a similar disease but with a higher utilisation and it's a mess.

[ Parent | on HN ]
Re:Bill Gates calls for nationwide shutdown by baq on Wednesday April 01, 2020 @05:07PM (#22753521)
a smallpox analog now would break this world. covid-19 is a minor inconvenience in comparison. you've given me shivers just by making me think about it.
[ Parent | on HN ]