Loungers, i find it interesting as the nation turns its attention to "reopening" to remind myself where things started. Shutdowns/SIP are imposed in various ways nearly world wide. It was done to buy time to build health care associated capacity. Look at the parameters the models spit out - # beds needed, #available, #icu needed, and yes, deaths. The goal stated by many, many times was to be sure hospitals werent overwhelmed.

Certainly a proper objective as nations tried to deal with this bug - with all the known and unknown unknowns.

It wasnt done to "defeat the virus". Such is impossible right now.

Now, as i listen and read, the rationale for lockdowns/SIP is morphing from the original objective (now that its clear that healthcare/hospital capacity is there for the most part) to "winning the battle vs the virus" type slogans, etc. This is, ofc impossible until there is a safe, effective vaccine. Which under optimistic assumptions wont be available for ~12 months. (Even with the accelerated phase 2/3).

There remains hope this bug morphs itself into some lessor version over time. OTOH, the vaccine may or may not materialize, or it will be a yearly thing like flu vaccines where biomedical community chases after it with various levels of success.

As you know, ive been watching many of our neighbors both to the east and west. Sweden is sorta the control variable. I note denmark is reopening schools, stores reopening in Austria and Czech republic, germany is moving toward reopen in some regions. Even spain and italy (god bless them both after what theyve been thru)

This wide range of public policy approaches vis a vis C19 and economic/social activity is a fine backdrop to study what works, both here and abroad.

Best wishes to all hokies. Someday, we will be back screaming in lane, yelling at the refs, and having fun. I *hope*