Quote: bren2k "Because it's been too early thus far - you don't manage the peak if you go all out too soon; ICU's end up full of people, then you have no facilities to deal with those cases that come later. As far as I understand it, the phased process is about flattening the peak, and enabling the health system to deal with cases in a gradual way, rather than all at once. There is also the social and economic impact to consider - for example, if you close schools and all the Dr's and Nurses suddenly have kids at home who need childcare, who staffs the wards?
I suspect that after today's COBRA meeting, we'll be officially in phase 2 - Delay - which means you might get some of the things you want; school closures, cancelled events etc etc.'"
Agreed
The only aspect where we should have moved more quickly is on international travel.
There would have been huge implications in cost and the survival of the travel companies but, it seems crazy to allow people to travel into the affected areas and then have the difficulties in repatriation and isolation etc when they return.
I know this would be massively unpopular with families going on holiday etc but, it does seem ridiculous that people were still allowed to travel to places like Italy when the problem was mushrooming.