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

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.

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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.

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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.
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