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In reply to the discussion: All K-12 schools in Pennsylvania shut down for 2 weeks amid coronavirus outbreak [View all]BumRushDaShow
(128,781 posts)is a direct result of people being restricted, businesses closed down, and institutions forced to cancel large gatherings.
But there are also all those waivers that were granted too.
This is the exact result that was hoped for and was expected when you restrict movement. It has slowed the spread from reaching the types of numbers seen in NY and now being seen in NJ. The fact that Jersey was hit the hardest in the north (due to the close interaction and commuting that goes on up there) made sense. However as soon as those who had 2nd homes along the south Jersey shore, fled down there, and/or the rental places started advertising for people to go there, the incidences in the south Jersey shore towns and counties started increasing - and there were few if any places testing there (after screaming, they finally got testing set up in south Jersey counties). And now a couple of the counties that had the lowest rates are seeing a sudden surge in cases that would have been infinitely worse had the restrictions not been put in place. So this grand experiment appears to be working.
HOWEVER - remember that all the reporting is an undercount because they are only testing people with symptoms or people who are healthcare workers/first responders. Meanwhile the asymptomatic have the potential to spread it like wildfire.
Sadly this thing is a slow-motion trainwreck and the concern is that trying to go back to the way it was too soon, will result in what is happening in Asia with a resurgence (in some cases, a "2nd peak" ) of cases again. And those countries put in immediate crackdowns after lifting too soon.
Japan
Hong Kong and Singapore
China
South Korea
I know mayor Kenney mentioned today in his presser, that he's trying to avoid having to force another shutdown if all the restrictions are suddenly lifted and the cases start piling up again.