Because do we really have tests readily available? With a fast enough result time? If it takes 4-5 days to get a test and 4-5 days for a result, 8-10 days total. The a 14 day quarantine isn't much more. Without any surprise billing too. Especially if you're just giving it a "best effort" and not really completely quarantine either way.I don't understand the continued use of 14 days of quarantine when we have tests available.
From the article:Love this article. Very balanced and sobering take. The answers aren't easy.
I had been using "slow" vs "contain", but "mitigation" vs "suppression" fits the description too. As a country, we've mostly done the "mitigation".Dr. Mina said mitigation generally aims for an R of just above one, while suppression aims for an R of below one.
Some epidemiologists and economists argue ramped-up testing could enable the economy to reopen safely without a vaccine. Mr. Romer estimates the U.S. could restore $1,000 in economic activity for every $10 spent on tests.
The answers are easy. Not everyone likes them, and so there is trying to pick and choose which ones are done. But, as we see, it doesn't work unless you do all the stuff. Have to put in all the work. But, none of it is a hard question.
Remember, Positivity rate is a measure of how well the community spread is understood. With a rate that high, it's not understood and the case number is going to be incorrect and low.Low tests. Low numbers.
Positivity rate
It's not a hard decision, it's an unpopular one, there's a difference. All of those clubs, bars, businesses relying on large group gatherings have financial records, pay taxes and payroll. If the public health need demands they all be closed for some amount of time, the answer is to just pay them to be closed. Pay the guy that owns the bar as if the government came in and exclusively reserved the entire place. Have him pay his workers as if they worked the hours, pay the suppliers for the product that would have been used. Pay them all as if they did the work, but require they stay home instead. As we don't want them competing in the market with others, just replacing the consumer purchaser with government to consume the supply. It still creates edge cases where not everyone does well. What about someone who only opened a bar last month? Or, even worse, the guy who was opening next month but hasn't yet? Or the guy thinking about opening. Somewhere there is a line, and people on the line are going to lose. But, it's not hard to make the line smaller and minimize the people, just unpopular.One reason this is so hard is there’s a guy who owns that bar. It’s his business and if it’s not open he could lose it. From his personal perspective keeping bars closed is a huge negative. That’s where the rub comes in between the best interest of individual businesses and the best interest of the overall economy. I do believe that it’s possible to get 80-90% of the economy open safely but not that 10-20% that includes businesses like clubs, bars, professional sports stadiums and other businesses relying on large group gatherings. It’s a tough pill to swallow if you are in one of those businesses. That’s why it’s not as easy as making decisions based on public health vs the economy. In some cases the decisions in favor of public health also help the economy.