Wednesday, March 11, 2020

[U] Time To Be Careful, True — But Do Take A Breath...


Okay. I’m unconvinced that flights from Europe were the single most important problem. But... whatever.

That said, if it encourages the elderly and people who are immune compromised to be extra cautious, I think that’s marginally... helpful. Unlike Trump though, I think common sense ought to rule the moment, not the fact that futures are off another 600 for tomorrow because there is no clear... plan.

The plan has to be... we adapt. Life is evolving — Tom Hanks has it; so we must recognize that our responses whatever those may be... will not “mistake proof” things.

We — as American taxpayers — can fund good therapies, and good vaccines -- right now; and we can agree to give them to all in need. That ought to be our goal — it will be expensive, and there will be more down Dow Jones days than up ones, at least until summer. But we must be more... flexible than just a payroll tax cut, or delaying income tax filings. We must fund... bio-science. Right now. [UPDATED: In our commitment to funding a safe vaccine, we need not and should not expect a need to give it to every person in the US, as the outbreak does not remotely warrant it. It should only be used in "ring" fashion -- as was deployed in the successful approach in the DRC, Sierra Leone, and Guinea for Ebola -- just to be clear.]

This is a developing, fluid bio-science situation, and suspending NBA games — or playing March Madness without a live audience... should not be criticized — as perhaps it will save some lives. But it will not be “enough”; not hardly.

If you are able to telecommute — again... that makes sense — at least for a couple of weeks. Then we reassess. But this is not Ebola.

So... it is a tough virus, but also harder to catch than this year’s flu. So buckle up, drink OJ... stay well-rested and above all... don’t be paralyzed into a panic. Do your grocery shopping — no need to hug everyone you see when you do, though. Be... sensible. And... be excellent to one another.

नमस्ते

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