Another explanation is that the exact infection level isn’t important when the observed all-causes fatality rate is double [0] its seasonal average and everyone is therefore busy firefighting the immediate and obvious problems.

[0] varies by region, but see for example this graph of London: https://pbs.twimg.com/media/EVlO-28XQAA30xu?format=jpg&name=...

Don't take my word for it.

Here is an article by a Stanford epidemiologist calling for random testing a month ago: https://www.statnews.com/2020/03/17/a-fiasco-in-the-making-a...

We need data to act objectively. As far as I can tell US state governments are doing all they can to prevent random data from being released.

What's the motivation?

I see plenty of motivation in some states to try to minimize the potential magnitude of the problem, or avoid "bad" numbers of infection rates.

I don't see a motivation for "milking" the crisis. The current actions by governments are restricting economic activity and revenue streams. Many states only make money on sales tax and that's probably not going super well right now.

I agree that there is hesitation to do widespread testing, but I don't know which government would intentionally cause a recession using this virus as an excuse.

The parent is parroting a conservative talking point: That the current situation is being pushed by democrats to hurt the economy and thus Trump

A month ago I would’ve agreed with the article you linked to. I’m suggesting that right now there’s probably enough information in merely the death count to say “we need to do something! Argh, panic!” — and governments, regional and national, are doing just that worldwide.

What would a government, and specifically a ruling party gain from slowing down the economy and alienating its people (which always happens to some non-zero extent when you quarantine and constrain people)?

Milk it by tanking GDP? I'm sure that will do well for government revenue this year.

I'm sure Trump was just itching to shut down international travel, recommend reduced productivity, and mail everyone checks. He just needed a good excuse.

Sending out checks is pretty popular with voters, which is why he's insisting on having his personal signature on them in an election year.

I'm just not clear on which government is chomping at the bit to cause a recession given an excuse.