flippakitten
Expert Member
- Joined
- Aug 5, 2015
- Messages
- 2,486
The lockdown was never intended to - nor will it - stop COVID. It was to slow the initial spread so it did not overwhelm the health system and buy time for preparations to be made, including worst case scenario contingencies. If we are not ready now then we never will be and we cannot stay at home for 6, 10, 12 or 18 months until this stuff burns out or a vaccine arrives.
As for Brazil and the USA, they both - arrogantly - downplayed it and reacted slowly. China ignored it before it became impossible to deny that something was up. If anything we jumped the gun. We went in to lockdown early and until now have got off pretty lightly in terms of deaths if you compare us to the likes of Italy, the UK, France and Spain, all of whom have similar population sizes. A lot of these countries waited until the schit hit the fan before they shut down. I distinctly remember football fans travelling between Italy and France whilst northern Italy was going up in flames.
South Africa didn't need to lock down for so long and so hard with rediculous rules, it was pretty clear early on.
I could be wrong but apart from arresting people has any new capacity been added to the medical system?