******************** POSTING RULES & NOTES ******************** #1 YOU MUST clip all extraneous text when replying to a message. #2 This mail-list, like most, is publicly & permanently archived. #3 Subscribe and post under an alias if #2 is a concern. *****************************************************************
"personal distancing plus social solidarity" Re Michael: I suggested some of the medical counsel in my prior link ( http://ml-today.com/2020/03/17/how-should-marxists-view-the-covid-19-pandemic-of-2019-2020/ ). I am not an infectious diseases expert, but as an academic researcher in the newborn ICU - I think I have interpreted the data accurately. I think the three key points you are missing are: 1) The infectivity - or transmissibility of COVID-19 is very high. It is termed the Ro factor, and it is in table 1 - drawn from the work of Dr Chen. 2) The equation that I think - you still seem to be making - is between the various varieties of 'flu' and the COVID-19. They are *not* equatable. Largely because: of the higher death rate; but perhaps even more importantly is the absence of so-called 'herd immunity'; and the absence of a vaccine, which is admittedly only amiable to those who are 'covered' in the US system or how take up state programmes such as in Germany, or even... the 'austerity-ridden' NIHS-UK. 3) The issue of Italy not deriving benefit from quarantine is - I believe misunderstood. That is because they waited a long time. But in the end had they not acted, the death rate would have been *even* higher. (There were indications I understand, that the North of Italy might have been aware of a large unique epicentre). The exemplar on quarantining, for instance are likely, Taiwan, Singapore and South Korea - all did impose a form of quarantining (S.Korea was quite relatively easy as the epicenter was localised around that Church); but crucially coupled with a mass diagnostic testing. Defending the health care systems I agree is very important. I made the point that the effects of the so-called 'austerity cuts' in some of the European countries (including Italy) - is dramatic. In other countries where no universal health care systems have been present (USA) - the negative effects will be even greater. The USA is compounded by being worse than Italy in being slow and with no wide-spread diagnostics testing. I think *after* this epidemic - there will be moments form the bourgeoisie themselves to have better health care systems (a la Engels' 'Angel of death quote'); and the workers will mobile more to demand restoration of the austerity cuts at minimum - in the so-called welfare states. You raise a good point about Chile. I guess there are two things: 1) In particular countries, there may be different decisions. 2) Even the radicals and militants will be mowed down by this non-discriminator epidemic. I guess I agree with a lot of Mark's comments here. Anyway, stay safe all. Especially the older... that includes me as wells you Louis. Hari Kumar _________________________________________________________ Full posting guidelines at: http://www.marxmail.org/sub.htm Set your options at: https://lists.csbs.utah.edu/options/marxism/archive%40mail-archive.com
