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* Rep. Blaine Wilhour writing in the Illinois Review…
An Ivy League professor recently published an article in the Federalist stating that the longer we quarantine the entire population – the more we delay herd immunity which could lead to more people succumbing to the virus in the long run. The author suggested that a more targeted approach to quarantining might be the better solution.
Is this a better approach? Maybe. Maybe not. But can we at least have the discussion?
* They had a vigorous discussion about herd immunity in England last month…
Britain’s chief scientific adviser stoked controversy on Friday when he said that about 40m people in the UK could need to catch the coronavirus to build up “herd immunity” and prevent the disease coming back in the future.
Defending Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s decision not to follow other European countries by closing schools and banning mass gatherings, Patrick Vallance said it was the government’s aim to “reduce the peak of the epidemic, pull it down and broaden it” while protecting the elderly and vulnerable.
But Sir Patrick told Sky News that experts estimated that about 60 per cent of the UK’s 66m population would have to contract coronavirus in order for society to build up immunity.
“Communities will become immune to it and that’s going to be an important part of controlling this longer term,” he said. “About 60 per cent is the sort of figure you need to get herd immunity.”
* But that idea didn’t last very long…
Donald Trump has said that Boris Johnson’s abandoned plan for creating “herd immunity” to the coronavirus in the UK would have been “catastrophic” and caused “a lot of death.”
The president said that the UK government’s original coronavirus strategy plan, which involved allowing the virus to spread in order to achieve resistance to the virus in the population, would have caused millions of deaths if adopted in the US.
“If you remember, they were looking at that concept - I guess it’s a concept if you don’t mind death, a lot of death - but they were looking at that in the UK, remember,” Trump told a White House press briefing on Tuesday.
“And all of a sudden they went hard the other way because they started seeing things that weren’t good, so they put themselves in a little bit of a problem.”
* And then…
Boris Johnson, the British Prime Minister, who was transferred to intensive care Monday night, has become a potent symbol of the dangers the coronavirus pandemic poses.
The fact Johnson has become so ill highlights that this disease can be deadly to even the young and healthy. It also highlights what’s so problematic about the policy his government initially pursued to combat the virus: herd immunity.
Johnson’s government was much slower to impose social distancing measures than many other European countries.
* Back to Rep. Wilhour…
On April 8th, the Governor’s 30 day-emergency powers come to an end. It is time for the Governor to bring the Legislature to the table. Our constituents deserve input on potentially opening parts of the state less affected by the virus.
Just one of the bills Rep. Wilhour sponsored in this GA has become law…
Amends the Illinois Vehicle Code. Provides that red or white oscillating, rotating, or flashing emergency lights may be used on a vehicle operated by a qualified deputy fire chief or assistant fire chief (in addition to a fire chief).
And only one other bill he’s introduced has attracted co-sponsors from beyond a tight-knit group of far-right legislators.
…Adding… From Rep. Wilhour…
Way to completely ignore context and cherry-pick one small section while ignoring the rest. Perhaps you should tell your readers to read the whole thing and then comment specifically to the content.
I am not arguing for herd immunity. I am advocating for a more targeted approach based on actual numbers. Lets look at taking into account who is the most at-risk and formulate policies to protect them, our most vulnerable.
If you read the article, what is is really calling for is full transparency on relevant data, benchmarks and safeguard ideas for reopening of the economy-based on the data, open consideration of regionalization-again , based on data. All very reasonable discussion points.
Furthermore, how about some considerations on the lasting effects this blanket shutdown will have on working people?
I just saw a report where the Indiana suicide hotline has had increases in call volume from 1000-25,000.
The Governor and the Mayor both pointed to disproportionate effects on the African American community.
The Mayor attributes it to factors such as: health care accessibility, jobs, and hunger.
These huge across the board shutdown policies are making all of these factors exponentially worse.
If you read the article, I am clearly not calling for a free-for-all. Stop marginalizing dissent from the group-think.
BTW, I am chief sponsor on more bills than you indicated.
Look it up. www.ilga.gov
I did look it up.
posted by Rich Miller
Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:41 am
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I think anyone who proposes using herd immunity concerns to further economic concerns submit a well-researched theme paper defining and explaining herd immunity.
Comment by Gish Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:46 am
The one point that he raised that got my attention was the absence of the Illinois legislature throughout most of this COVID-19 process. I have seen or heard from local officials and Congress has conducted sessions, but the General Assembly has canceled its sessions and been unusually silent. I cannot recall reading a “because Madigan” comment in the past three weeks or so.
Comment by Practical Politics Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:47 am
Oh, Rep, Wilhour? You first. Let us know how it works out.
Comment by Bruce (no not him) Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:48 am
The “Hateful Eight” are not thoughtful or talented legislators.
When their “leader” can’t agree to this because it failed so miserably overseas, you need to take a hard look at the “Hateful Eight” and see the lacking of sympathy, empathy, heck the lack of understanding common sense and science…
When you are a panderer to a 51st state mentality, you’re not one who grasps the idea of “we’re all in this together”… you’re one who embraces “save me and those who think like me”
These legislators beg for us to believe what we see, they’re telling us who they are, even in this crisis. We believe you, now please be better than that.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:50 am
Pro life GOP extremists would rather let disease run wild and let people die than fight for a few months bec it’s too hard and expensive. What a lazy, dangerous group of jokers.
Comment by Sonny Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:50 am
LOL no we cannot just have a debate over anonymous opinions, Rep. Wilhour.
“The author is an academic physician and researcher at an Ivy League institution in New York City.
This byline marks several different individuals, granted anonymity in cases where publishing an article on The Federalist would credibly threaten close personal relationships, their safety, or their jobs. We verify the identities of those who publish anonymously with The Federalist.”
Comment by crazybleedingheart Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:52 am
What a maroon.
Comment by Cheryl44 Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:52 am
Post stuck in spam
Comment by crazybleedingheart Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:52 am
You lost me at “published an article in the Federalist.” Herd immunity is a good idea if you’re not one of those in the herd that dies.
The absurdity of Wilhour’s point is on full display as you read further in Rich’s post.
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:53 am
===an article in the Federalist stating===
That’s usually a good sign to stop reading and move on. If you’re getting health advice from the Federalist, there isn’t much hope for you.
If you’re getting public health policy from the Federalist and taking it seriously? Then there isn’t much hope for the rest of us.
Comment by 47th Ward Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:53 am
Allowing nature to “take its course” is indeed a brutal approach to a completely new pathogen with a propensity for fatal outcomes. The theory is to have a large proportion of the population with immunity–either via post infection or post (effective) vaccination. Sounds like another Covidiot to me.
Comment by Groundhog Day Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:54 am
Once we have the anti-body tests up and running in mass so we know who has had the virus, and thus a better understanding of 1) what the actual number of people critically sick or killed are, and 2) how many people already got sick and are therefore already immune, THEN we can discuss herd immunity. Right now, with our best data telling us that 12-15 percent of people get hospitalized and 5% are critically ill (as in ICU/ventilators), it’s just irresponsible.
Comment by Perrid Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 10:55 am
That blub at the end about the tif bill is pretty eye-opening.
>Provides that moneys in the special tax allocation fund may be used to make distributions to certain taxing districts.
How about just dissolving the tif instead of using it as a political slush fund for mayors of small towns across the state?
If the money the tif subtracted from those other taxing bodies in the first place, is now to be given back to those same taxing bodies, but on a preferable and clearly subjective basis, then just dissolve the tif that is taking the money from all those other agencies in the first place.
tif is so broken in this state as it is, the change proposed pushes it far beyond broken and turns it into legal corruption.
Not to be one who only complains, so a suggestion to fix tif would be to work from the foundation concepts for tif. Specifically make the requirements for creating a tif much more strict and exact. There are currently enough loopholes to fly a large airplane through it.
plainfield used tif funds to buy road salt a few years ago. That’s a broken system.
Comment by TheInvisibleMan Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:01 am
“Maybe. Maybe not.”
Very Darwinistic and right wing. And the people who get sick and don’t have health insurance—even though many have jobs with low pay and few or no benefits—they brought it on themselves.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:01 am
Serious question without snark. IF Rep. Wilhour is embracing “herd immunity” does that mean for measles, mumps, and rubella, or whooping cough, he’ll oppose anti-vaxxers? (OK, just a wee bit of snark … .
)
Comment by Anyone Remember Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:03 am
What Bruce (no not him) said-
Walk it like you talk it, tough guy.
Comment by efudd Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:04 am
What they are saying is money is more important than human lives. They should point to a country that has tried this. Best estimate I can make this would’ve meant 500,000 deaths if we had gone this route. Based off a fatality rate of 1%, 10 times deadlier than the flu,more contagious than the flu. Flu kills maybe 30,000 (varies) so 10 times that plus,there is “herd immunity” for the flu via the vaccine so the population of susceptible people higher than the flu (any people who are breathing).Would like to see the campaign ads after…
Comment by Anotheretiree Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:07 am
So many things to pick apart in this silliness. “An ivy league professor”? So what? Professor of what? And the Federalist? Good grief. Anyone who’s read that rag knows how utterly intellectually bankrupt it is. It’s an ideological rag. That’s it. They do a disservice to the word “federalist” which at least had some legit intellectual underpinning. To quote Shania Twain and JB the other day, a good bit of advice for lawmakers of both parties. Just don’t be stXpid.
Comment by Chicago Cynic Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:09 am
The “herd immunity” concept and others are a charade. As long as this virus is present in our society, a huge swath of the population will be absent from the economy and practicing social distancing, irregardless of what the President or governors say/do.
The only way we get back to normal, and the only way we save our economy, is finding a vaccine and/or eradicating positive tests from the community.
Comment by Merica Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:13 am
“Will the costs of a great depression outweigh the risks of Coronavirus” and some title about NYC are just some of the gems from those right wing writing geniuses. I’m wondering, polio, measles, herd immunity?
Comment by Amalia Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:19 am
“When I was a child, I talked like a child, I thought like a child, I reasoned like a child. When I became a man, I put the ways of childhood behind me.”
Rep. Wilhour, you’re 38 years old. It’s time you became a man.
Comment by Moe Berg Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:21 am
To put a finer point to Mr. Wilhour’s ridiculousness…
Wimbledon and The Open (golf’s major)… they’re canceled.
When were they scheduled?
Late June, middle July.
It’s April 7th.
This all happened days ago.
The UK sees July… as a non-starter for these events… and Mr. Wilhour wants to cite the UK in any option, let alone a Darwinian idea that is already rejected?
“Ok”
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:24 am
If you want to look at Herd Immunity look no further than the Illinois Amish community. There is a vaccine for Whooping Cough but the Amish refuse to vaccinate. My neighbor is a “Country Doctor” and many of her patients are Amish, she told me earlier this week that she has treated over 100 Amish children for Whooping Cough since January 1. COVID-19 has no vaccine yet and spreads like wildfire if you don’t practice Physical Distancing and while the vast majority who contract it won’t need to be hospitalized, the ones that do would completely overwhelm the Medical system. Physical Distancing is meant to spread out the stress on the system so that the vast majority of those that need hospitalized don’t die.
Comment by Gruntled University Employee Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:25 am
Is Mr. Wilhour more interested in herd immunity or culling the herd?
Comment by Cronkite’s Ghost Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:27 am
This thought is from the twitter account of Steak-Ums, so a frozen steak meat is more rational than a state rep.
Comment by OneMan Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:29 am
On my journey tis morn to St. LOUIS for screening,I drove by the 64/255 work zones
. Literally 100’s of construction workers in a 1/2 mile stretch..mask free and many within spitting distance of one another. Stopped at a circle k for gas. Dozens in and out while I filled up. Makes me wonder the real numbers staying at home.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:34 am
== how about some considerations on the lasting effects this blanket shutdown will have on working people?==
It has and is being considered. The decision has been to put people’s health first.
==open consideration of regionalization==
That assumes everyone is going to stay in their “region.” Does the Representative not think that people from outside the region will start dropping in to restaurants and other businesses should we decide to open up by region? Is he really that dense?
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:35 am
=The only way we get back to normal, and the only way we save our economy, is finding a vaccine and/or eradicating positive tests from the community.=
A vaccine is likely not going to be available until sometime next year. What we need right now is more widespread testing and ideally serology testing which would identify who’s been exposed and has immunity.
The reason we have stay at home orders in place right now is that we have no idea who the carriers may be.
Comment by Pundent Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:38 am
We need a vaccine and we need it vast.
This “Herd” angle makes no real sense except to those who would survive it.
Right now, COVID-19 seems to naturally be in urban areas. New York has 40% of all cases in the nation.
In Illinois, 95% of the cases are in Cook and five surrounding counties. What the governor has done to extend the shutdowns through April is the correct thing to do.
However, if this disease continues to stay overwhelmingly in urban areas you can count on that fact that those not living in those areas and that have very few, if any cases, will grow very tired of this shutdown. Particularly those who are unemployed by it.
Obviously, I do not have a crystal ball but this my opinion at this time.
Comment by OpentoDiscussion Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:39 am
As usual my typing skills are woefully bad.
“vast” should read ‘fast’.
Comment by OpentoDiscussion Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:40 am
=== Furthermore, how about some considerations on the lasting effects this blanket shutdown will have on working people?===
“The dead know only one thing: it is better to be alive.“
- Full Metal Jacket
Mr. Wilhour, you are truly a buffoon, a measure of life in dollars, while having zero sense.
=== I am not arguing for herd immunity. I am advocating for a more targeted approach based on actual numbers. Lets look at taking into account who is the most at-risk and formulate policies to protect them, our most vulnerable.===
As a Trumpkin, how can a free floating virus be contained “easily” with free moving folks?
Are you wanting a “wall” around that 51st state silliness?
Your response above continues to indicate such a lacking.. you lack sympathy, empathy, you’d encourage others hurt so a buck can be made… because life is truly less than what business means… except to the families and friends losing those close to them.
Oh… are you that small of a person? The answer is yes…
===I am chief sponsor on more bills than you indicated.
Look it up. www.ilga.gov===
This is the most embarrassing line.., it’s about you.
Maybe stop typing.
Maybe stop thinking you have answers.
Maybe just… stop.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:45 am
last fall rep wilhour was requited to introduce a bill to honor veteran who was killed in line of duty. his first response was talk to the county board because they did not want a lot of signs on highway. this was a request for a sign on state highway. where is the bill? maybe that is why he is member of blockheads
Comment by slim Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:54 am
- Stop marginalizing dissent from the group-think. -
Dunning Kruger effect in the flesh.
Comment by Excitable Boy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 11:55 am
Let’s be crystal clear who Mr. Wilhour is as a legislator during this crisis.
‘Nember that letter the “Hateful Eight” wrote, signed… priorities… during this crisis?
Here’s my favorite… as McCormick place is being discussed as a hospital and cases rising…
=== 3. Return the light trailer license fee back to $18 from $118===
*That’s* who Mr. Wilhour is…
It’s about a trailer license fee… and not about the safety or the lives of others.
But please, tell me more about these bills Mr. Wilhour is sponsoring, it’ll keep him busy while those leaders trying to save lives have one less worry… Mr. Wilhour’s ideas.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:01 pm
Wilhour, like the other “economics first” crowd laments the fact that health experts are driving policy right now. Because we wouldn’t want them doing that in the midst of a pandemic would we? /s/
Perhaps if he wants to have a voice he would be more serious. He’s proven himself to be anything but.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:06 pm
The discussion has already been had by actual professionals who know something about contagion, such as the WHO and the CDC. Sorry the rep got left out of it, but he did not have any qualifications to have an opinion.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:11 pm
Blaine, Blaine, Blaine. The best part of being a public official is that your record is…. public. Of course Rich had already looked it up and here is it, in all it’s glory for all his readers to see.
http://www.ilga.gov/house/RepBills.asp?MemberID=2761&Primary=True
Something to consider Representative: the per capita income in the heart of your district, Fayette County, was $22,260 last year. You make 3 times that (plus per diem) as a freshman legislator. You might want to pass more than one bill a year if you’re going to make three times more than your average constituent. Perhaps get better at that job before you play epidemiologist.
Comment by Arnold Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:17 pm
** Because we wouldn’t want them doing that in the midst of a pandemic would we **
There is a very good reason why scientists aren’t in charge - their knowledge is a foot wide and a mile deep, meaning they know a whole lot about very little. They of course should always be consulted before making policy, but they should not be making it.
Comment by Corn Desert Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:20 pm
=== There is a very good reason why scientists aren’t in charge - their knowledge is a foot wide and a mile deep, meaning they know a whole lot about very little===
… except you’re hoping they can figure out a vaccine.
Being a science denier or not letting science rule decisions when lives are at stake is not a policy that has the best intentions for people.
Choosing money over lives… is your comment in a nutshell.
Congratulations.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:23 pm
“Stop marginalizing dissent from the group-think” is the most awesome retort to someone telling you that your idea is dumb.
I now plan on using it all the time.
It is also the name of my new band. We are a dissonant minimalist swing band.
Comment by Gish Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:26 pm
==their knowledge is a foot wide and a mile deep===
Don’t know many scientists, do you? BTW, science is a method that is used to figure out what is true and what is false. It is really helpful in many areas of life. Try it sometime.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:29 pm
BTW, I am chief sponsor on more bills than you indicated.
Look it up. www.ilga.gov
I did look it up.
Reminds me of that old saw
“I never argue with a man who buys ink by the barrel.”
Comment by Anonymous Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:32 pm
Ever think when watching a hollywood catastrophe movie that the dimwitted portrayal of politicians could never happen in real life? Me either.
Comment by Builder of Bridges Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:32 pm
Just a suggestion:
If Rep. Wilhour wants a situation that will create herd immunity, perhaps we could sit him down with some statistians and do some modeling.
The first model would be on a county-by county basis. The statistians would take demographic data for each county, including age distributions and percentages of residents with underlying health conditions that exacerbate Covid-19, and project the number of residents who will get sick, who will need to be hospitalized, who will need intensive care, and who will die. In this part of the exercise, it might be useful to compare the generated numbers to hospital beds in each county, particularly ICU beds.
Then another group could take over, and using the projected remaining population in each county, demonstrate how legislative boundaries for state and federal offices would be drawn.
Given that the area covered by the Eastern Blockheads tends to be older and poorer, with more underlying health conditions, there’s a decent likelihood that the districts of Rep. Wilhour and his Blockhead colleagues will shrink.
Perhaps such graphic illustrations will help the good representative and his colleagues in their decision-making processes and public statements.
(A girl can hope, right?)
Comment by Lynn S. Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:33 pm
“There is a very good reason why scientists aren’t in charge - their knowledge is a foot wide and a mile deep, meaning they know a whole lot about very little.“
Wow, what a callous disregard for science that is big in the GOP today. Let’s not let experts shape our policies. But we’ll blindly follow a president who knows little, lies pathologically and has left behind a trail of victims in his scams.
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:36 pm
=== the vast majority who contract it won’t need to be hospitalized ===
That depends on your definition of “Vast”.
The adult population of Illinois is 10 million.
If 6 million are infected, 80 percent will not need to be hospitalized.
1.2 million people in the hospital, 300,000 in ICU beds is still a large number of people.
We do not have nearly enough doctors, hospitals, hospital beds, ventilators, nurses, gowns, gloves or masks for what she’s proposing. In fact it’s ten times what our health system could handle. Rural hospitals would be the first to be overrun.
Comment by Yellow Dog Democrat Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 12:52 pm
His messaging is consistent with Trump’s planning for the pandemic.
Comment by Rich Hill Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 1:12 pm
* callous disregard for science *
Oh please, I said nothing of the sort. Statistics and data are my everyday job, and yes, I do know scientists.
I have to wonder how many people on here are in “safe” government jobs or other recession-proof professions? My guess is most of you given your disregard for people’s livelihoods.
Comment by Corn Desert Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 1:28 pm
===I do know scientists.===
Are they “some of your best friends”?
=== I have to wonder how many people on here are in “safe” government jobs or other recession-proof professions?===
The thing is, if you’re not alive, it won’t matter what job you had in life.
It’s not like the virus says… “I’m a virus, if you’re job is non-essential I’m not going to effect you”
You’re choosing money over life. I get it.
=== My guess is most of you given your disregard for people’s livelihoods.===
Nah. I’d like to have as many people survive this crisis and not let the economy dictate the way to survive a pandemic.
But, my bad, you know scientists.
Comment by Oswego Willy Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 1:34 pm
==given your disregard for people’s livelihoods==
Who is doing that? You mistake a preference for public health as a “disregard for people’s livlihoods.” I’d rather err on the side of public health. That doesn’t mean we disregard anything.
Comment by Demoralized Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 1:40 pm
Last paragraph of the article: ===Of course. we need to take this threat seriously, but we need to ask tough questions, demand answers, demand accountability. The future of our country depends on how we answer these questions.===
Blaine, you must be furious when thinking how Trump is handling the pandemic. Looking forward to an article addressing that, soon. /s/
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 1:43 pm
==plainfield used tif funds to buy road salt a few years ago. That’s a broken system.==
Invisible, I can’t find anything on the google about this. While I agree TIF is terribly abused in some communities and needs fixing generally, it seems more likely Plainfield used motor fuel taxes (MFT) for the salt. MFT is allowed to be used for certain commodities purchases - another is electricity for street lighting. (Still not a good idea IMO because switching from paying with general operations funds takes away from street repair and it can be hard to reverse course.)
Comment by yinn Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 1:57 pm
Corn Desert”. You went straight from:
“They of course should always be consulted before making policy, but they should not be making it”…
to
“My guess is most of you given your disregard for people’s livelihoods”…
Did you have a point that you forgot to make? Like how you are upset about something? Knowledge a foot wide and a mile deep beats knowledge a foot wide and a foot deep.
Comment by Jibba Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 2:01 pm
We have vaccines because herd immunity doesn’t work. If you need any evidence of that, lookup chicken pox, measles, etc. And you risk a mutation in the virus, just like with the flu virus mutates every year, so your herd immunity becomes valueless. It’s better to isolate until a vaccine can be created and then immunize everyone without any waivers.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 2:21 pm
“There is a very good reason why scientists aren’t in charge - their knowledge is a foot wide and a mile deep, meaning they know a whole lot about very little.“
I bet Dr. Fauchi knows more about infectious diseases and how to control them than just about anybody in the country. To say Dr. Fauchi knows a whole lot about very little is dismissive of the only authoritative voice coming out of Washington DC.
Comment by Huh? Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 2:29 pm
One more thing, on a brighter note…let’s remember the story of the 2 young women from Effingham County, who are now working in Chicago in response to the great need there. One of them is represented by Wilhour in the legislature. We’ve got some some good people here in the bloc that will help, no matter what.
Comment by Don't Bloc Me In Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 2:42 pm
It’s always easier to say ‘money over life” when you have a job,financial security, or a future. Maybe when making those statements we should preface it with ‘IMO’.
Comment by Blue Dog Dem Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 3:01 pm
=== because herd immunity doesn’t work. ===
I believe it works IF YOU SURVIVE exclamation point
Comment by Norseman Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 3:16 pm
“I bet Dr. Fauchi knows more about infectious diseases and how to control them than just about anybody in the country.“
“Statistics and data are my everyday job”
But what does Fauci know about herd immunity or experimental drug efficacy and safety? Leave medical science to politicians and economic advisors, just like at the White House.
https://www.axios.com/coronavirus-hydroxychloroquine-white-house-01306286-0bbc-4042-9bfe-890413c6220d.html
Comment by Grandson of Man Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 3:51 pm
Right now we are using social distancing to buy time. Time to increase medical capacity, to find ways to treat the infected, to develop and deploy tests to identify those who are immune.
At some point we have to decide how much risk (how many more deaths per year) to take to resume work. I don’t think we will be back to pre-virus levels of risk, even when a vaccine is developed.
Comment by Last Bull Moose Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 5:04 pm
Yes, if you survive you may have immunity of sorts. But consider that with Chicken Pox, you are still at risk years later for Shingles. There isn’t enough knowledge on this virus to know what the long term effects may be. You may have millions of young people now who survived this initial virus threat that have some sort of COPD later in life because of the virus.
Comment by A Jack Tuesday, Apr 7, 20 @ 6:22 pm