International COVID-19 Megathread

[pikachu]

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.

I believe Japan also implemented a few social distancing measures (canceling school, postponing sports) around the same time Korea did. Wouldn’t be surprised if things are much worse than they officially say, though I feel like there’d be more rumblings on social media and whatnot.

[pikachu]

I was going to travel international next month, partially to trigger the online left, but that may not be possible if the US implements a quarantine requirement on returning travelers.. even those with three covid shots .. ugh

If you were already going to take time off to travel, is 7 extra days really a deal-breaker?

I’d imagine for the vast majority of Americans, yes. This wouldn’t affect me because I have the option of working remotely whenever I want, but I only have 15 vacation days a year and that’s more than most. Using 7 days (if I’m require to work in-person, as most people are now) would mean using 1/3 of them quarantining myself which is enough of a disincentive for me not to bother. Or, e.g. my sister, who’s a college student planning to abroad during her winter break to meet our grandmothers for the first time since pre-pandemic, would likely cancel if it meant missing a week of class.

I’m skeptical it’s going to happen, but any enforced quarantine period is likely enough to be a massive disincentive to travel internationally esp in this country.