[skipwalker]

I'm sorry but I think this is hogwash. The idea that America could function for 6 weeks in a lockdown to the level described to actually stop the transmission, by the time transmission started, is not plausible to me, and I imagine many others. This would have entailed no one working at grocery stores, no deliveries, no travel, no global trade. I just don't buy that this was ever plausible for however long people suggest: 3 weeks, 6 weeks whatever. And to what end. When do we open up to the rest of the world. I think your sentiment is hindsight wishful thinking/blame assignment. Now, criticizing the fact that we did not try what I would term more effective measures to stop transmission are fair points. Wide-spread cheap testing, ramping up massive manufacturing of real N95 respirators for the entire country, I think these are more plausibly effective techniques we did not do that are worthy of criticism.

[beachy]

I don't like the xenophobic tone of the parent, but you are incorrect.

> This would have entailed no one working at grocery stores, no deliveries, no travel, no global trade. I just don't buy that this was ever plausible for however long people suggest: 3 weeks, 6 weeks whatever.

The experiences of (at least) New Zealand and Australia are clear evidence it is absolutely possible, without the absurd extremes you are talking about.

[Izkata]

Both of which still have lockdowns. So no, they couldn't manage it either.

[kmonsen]

They are islands though, even if large ones. I don't think there are any large connected landmass that has managed to successfully take a New Zealand/Taiwan. Also US has different states with different rules, but no ability to restrict travel between the states. And lots of rural areas that potentially had small covid pocket before it got diagnosed.

I don't like the previous administration one bit, but this was a really hard problem. By the time covid was taken seriously I think it is confirmed it was a least spreading in Seattle and Bay Area.

[systemvoltage]

USA is 330 million people. New Zealand is 1/2 the population of SF Bay Area.

Just because NZ can demonstrate good COVID control, it cannot just apply at a massive nation. China has done it with authoritarian enforcement. There is no solution to this for USA, EU or large countries. Asian nations such as Japan and Korea are culturally different than the west. It’s impossible to change the culture of 330 million overnight.