.
I have all kinds of time to spare for this sort of thing. I'm an incurable infohound at heart.
Other than her lame attempt at humor with "You really really should not listen to any old person about Covid-19“ at the start (I'll bet
anything she read somewhere to "Start your public speaking engagement with a joke to warm up the audience"), what she had to say was thought-provoking, I agree.
I owe you a beer or coffee or two for bringing it to my attention.
I'm not sure if you posted her TedTalk to make a point and justify a position, or because you thought I'd appreciate the information.
She pretty much affirms and agrees with, repeatedly, points I've been making in various forums and groups. It's all info I've been absorbing and sharing for weeks.
That we "we
can get better at quarantines and travel restrictions and we should." With a
new virus like this one, slowing things down and flattening the curve of initial infections by staying put for now and
not contributing to the spread will create less of a sudden spike and burden on health systems, allow supply chains to keep up better and build our reserves of critical items,
and allow not only our country but others to build better ways to deal with future outbreaks of this, and other, viruses.
That's how we help build a good global health system that will make outbreaks less serious, that Alanna Shaikh considers "our best option." This outbreak is destined to go down as one of the most serious in human history, and it behooves us all to do what we can now to lessen
the initial impact so all systems can handle it better. Then the next outbreak of Covid-19 won't be as serious in impact or numbers, just as with influenza strains with appropriate vaccines, because we will know better what to do, will be better equipped in procedure and product, and more societally able to cope.
Right now, in the US, we sucked at being able to act appropriately and in time when this virus was noticed on the horizon. Flattening the curve of infection now by staying put for the time being and not potentially spreading it will help us all be able to better deal with it in future.
Do you know that the same day Kobe Bryant's death in the chopper crash made headlines, Jan 27 (feels like ancient history now), so did the search for a vaccine for this coronavirus? Most of America did not pay much attention to that article, though it was right next to the photo of Bryant. Though not quite eight weeks ago, less than 2,000 people in China and 5 in the US were confirmed sick. It was the first time I became aware of Dr Anthony Fauci, Director of the US's National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.
He indicated then it would take at least three months--with no bureaucratic or regulatory holdups--to get to phase one of just
testing the vaccine, not actually putting it into place. Having an actual usable vaccine has since been estimated at 18 months by him and others. The article also says "even if the vaccine is tested rapidly, it might not come in time to slow the outbreak.
Public health effects to limit the spread of the virus and treat those who are infected well have a more immediate benefit."
We can do that--limit the initial spread and impact of the virus-- by not going out adventuring for a while. Believe me, I want to as badly as anyone and have my van and trailer ready to go and be gone for months. I believe the more prudent thing for us all to do is help the health system and supporting infrastructure by staying put for now.
View attachment 145544
As for Allana Shaikh's old person joke at the beginning of her talk, like the Ford quote you added to the Words of Wisdom thread says: "The only real security that a man will have in this world is a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability." Building a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability most often comes with age.
Building a reserve of knowledge, experience, and ability in regards to Covid-19 will only come with time, too, and only if we do not overwhelm the system so badly now that it makes it difficult to recover.
Thanks for bringing the TedTalk to my attention. Good info. Hope to meet you out here somewhere someday around a fire for that beer or coffee.
Stay safe, stay clean, stay positive!
.
Roaddude - Traveling Photographer/Writer/Artist On the Road In North America. Gear, reviews, people, places, and culture.
roaddude.com