Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will last, health experts say

Re:Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will l... by dx87 on Friday April 03, 2020 @12:42PM (#22771160)

Honestly, my life in the suburbs hasn't been much different since this all started. It's basically been business as usual, except for things like stores not having as much food variety, fast food places being drive through only, and big box stores being less crowded. I think people in the cities will be most effected because of the large number of small shops and independent restaurants that had to close, but out in the suburbs the impact hasn't been any worse than when we get a big snow fall.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will l... by matwood on Friday April 03, 2020 @12:48PM (#22771275)

I've been thinking about this and how talking about the US as a homogenous entity is a mistake. The R0 of a big city is going to be higher than in a smaller city, suburb or the country side. For example, even before the shutdowns I could go to the grocery and count on one hand the number of people I might be within 6' of. Now it's even less. In a place like NYC, that seems impossible.

I and all the people I know are taking all the precautions, but density has to play into how fast something can spread.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will l... by CydeWeys on Friday April 03, 2020 @12:51PM (#22771322)

And yet there have been very dense, urbanized countries that have gotten a handle on it well (such as Singapore and Hong Kong). We could do it here, but we don't have enough testing or enough masks. The density of the country is not the main driving factor behind which countries are getting hardest hit and which are not.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will l... by bjtitus on Friday April 03, 2020 @12:59PM (#22771426)

On the other hand, many rural communities are vastly less capable of providing the care for even a small fraction of the big cities. Many rural counties in Colorado and Idaho have the highest rate of death and are most overwhelmed in their states because they have far less capacity.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will l... by wolco on Friday April 03, 2020 @01:44PM (#22772056)

Less likely to get it vs less likely to get medical treatment.

Logically it make sense to want more rural. If you test positive go to the nearest big city for treatment.

[ Parent | on HN ]

Re:Americans are underestimating how long disruptions will l... by amanaplanacanal on Friday April 03, 2020 @02:05PM (#22772287)

Assuming their hospital isn't already overwhelmed.

[ Parent | on HN ]