International COVID-19 Megathread

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South Korea's efforts were hampered by the members of an apocalyptic death cult -- but I agree with your assessment that Europe and N America will see far more (per capita) infections because a "quarantine" mentality hasn't been adopted by the population unlike in the SARS (and Dengue) afflicted countries.

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To the people here who doubt China's reports of reducing its new infections to just a few dozen a day -- how would you explain the nearly-equal success of countries like Singapore, Korea (despite Christian apocalyptic cult), and Japan to reduce their new infection rates as well, and with less draconian measures than China at that? With the exception of Korea, none of these countries have faced the exponential growth and spiking death rates seen in the southern European outbreak.

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I concede that the Japanese government is well within suspicion for suppressing the number of new infections since I underestimated their hard-on to host the Summer Olympics, come what may.

Even then, it's one thing to suppress reports of infections, it's another to hide the deaths. There should be evidence of government conspiracy, like leaks of hospital staff lying the cause of death; outraged family members of the dead on social media; increased emissions from crematoria; etc.

Away from Japan, SG, HK and Taiwan are all reporting a low infection and morbidity rate. The US should be as far as willing to follow their practice and not end up like Iran.

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Gotta love how China actually almost ended the outbreak (after starting it), and then it flared in Italy and SK for a second round.

And Iran, which is the worst-case scenario for countries with underdeveloped health care systems.

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I do think if the world and everything in it has to go into lockdown for a year to fight a disease that really doesn't affect many under the age of 50, but cuts like a knife through butter amongst the over 70's that there will be potential riots if not outright revolution unless those who are of working age are adequately secured/compensated by massive economic reform in their favour if they are to sacrifice (for many another) a decade of their working life and years of their social life. Otherwise, as an earlier poster said 'just let the olds die' won't be something said ironically.

Those same comfortably-retired-to rich olds who succumb the worst to this disease are also the most influential voting block of every western country, as well as Japan. Public policy -- closing elementary schools and universities in addition to restricting the mobility (and earning power) of the young to preserve the health of the elderly  -- will not change from what it is now.

Besides, there is a case to be made that the mobility restrictions keep the health care system from imploding from being overwhelmed with sick patients.