More restrictive shut down tied to quicker economic recovery

[Rukh O'Rorke]

??

Something to think about....from the annals of history!

CNN: You've also written about the 1918 flu pandemic and lessons in social distance from that period which seem more applicable today. Is the government doing a better job today than it did 100 years ago in telling Americans how to stay apart from each other?


RM: Like 1918, some political leaders are providing fact-based information and enacting policy grounded on scientific expertise, as well as recent and historical precedent, and some are not. Overall, the US response has been marred by inadequate preparation, a lack of coherence, both of which are ongoing.

Here in St. Louis in 1918, we had a courageous, tough health commissioner, Max Starkloff, who had back up from Mayor Henry Kiel. They brought together the public healthcare community, business leaders, the school superintendent and the archbishop and persuaded them that there needed to be a shutdown to stem the spread of the flu. Starkloff's leadership was marked by truth, transparency and a steel spine. As his shut down continued, he got incredible push back from business, church and public school leaders, but held firm. Because of this, Saint Louis, the 4th largest city in the country at the time, had a very low per capita death rate and the economy rebounded faster and better than many other cities. We need more Max Starkloffs and Henry Kiels today.

www.cnn.com/2020/05/03/politics/what-matters-may-3/index.html

super interesting article! Lots of stuff.

[pulmonarymd]

Other economic analysis suggest the economy fares worst with no lockdown as well as with no restrictions, and does best with some restrictions. It contracted on 15% with some restrictions versus 40-50% in the other scenarios