Is the United States prepared for COVID-19? Researchers at Imperial College London have modelled how the coronavirus might spread in the (essentially impossible) event that no social distancing or other preventive measures are adopted. Their startling conclusion was that over 80% of the population could be infected and up to 2.2 million could die in the US alone.
The real numbers will almost certainly be lower than that. That modelling assumes no action is taken, and action is being taken. The situation in Italy has shocked the world into action. Lockdowns, social distancing, travel restrictions, testing, contact tracing – all of these will slow the spread of the virus and help ease pressure on healthcare systems.
Some have suggested that Italy might be particularly vulnerable to the coronavirus, given its elderly population and its social model (which makes cohabitation between young and old more common). However, the truth is there is still so much we don’t know about the virus and about how it will impact different countries.
The United States has a much lower median age (38 in the USA versus roughly 46 in Italy). However, some analysts bemoan the slow response and often confusing messaging from the White House. Others have also criticised US President Donald Trump for “disbanding” his pandemic response team in 2018, though the former senior director for counterproliferation and biodefense on the National Security Council has pushed back against the way the restructuring of his former office has been framed.
Nevertheless, it seems certain that the slow US response has lost it the strategic advantage that China had, which was containing the outbreak in one region (Hubei province) and funneling in resources from other parts of the country so as to make the crisis management more effective. As testing becomes more widespread in the US, it appears the virus has now spread too widely, too quickly, to adopt that strategy.
The US has world-class healthcare. However, it is also very poorly-equipped to respond to a public health crisis, particularly on the likely scale of COVID-19. The crisis is almost certain to expose the deep inequities in America’s public health system.
Will coronavirus hit the US harder than Italy? Is the United States prepared for COVID-19? Let us know your thoughts and comments in the form below and we’ll take them to policymakers and experts for their reactions!
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Dont Know
Sorry but this is an incomparable comparison between an EU national State of 61 Mio & a United States of America of 330 Mio!
Italy is a national State (EU “supranational”) the other a federal one.
Why not compare national States within the EU or global populations of similar EU proportions being 513 Mio?
The EU’s proximity to a near federal status, its concept & capacity would be closer to the federal US- (even China) if one is hell-bent comparing during a (coming) health & economic catastrophe.
What is missing? Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to scrutinize both the EU & national leadership- who are jointly responsible for providing quick but pragmatic solutions, not EU semantics?
Quote: TEFU Article 6:
The Union shall have the competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States. The areas of such action shall, at the European level (=EU level), be:
(a) protection and improvement of human health-
Q: What kind of support or coordination did the EU give to Members throughout the developing stages of the Corona outbreak?
I recall that the EU President Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen called on Members to keep the EU inner borders open- “regardless”. A typical semantic EU “conceptual” but one-sided advice.
The courageous, quick & good leadership of several EU national leaders (France, Austria, etc.) did not reflect the (uncalled) semantics of the EU leadership! Who syncs whom & who advises whom?
Sorry, but “leaderless EU leaders” failed to protect. Similar to Mrs. Merkel’s un-synced “welcome all” during the migration crises. Nothing learned?
Shouldn’t the protection of everyone’s health & the dissemination of useful scientific info be a major point of discussion in the foreseeable future?
Sorry but this is an incomparable comparison between an EU national State of 61 Mio & a United States of America of 330 Mio!
Italy is a national State (EU “supranational”) the other a federal one.
Why not compare national States within the EU or global populations of similar EU proportions being 513 Mio?
The EU’s proximity to a near federal status, its concept & capacity would be closer to the federal US- (even China) if one is hell-bent comparing during a (coming) health & economic catastrophe.
What is missing? Wouldn’t it be more appropriate to scrutinize both the EU & national leadership- who are jointly responsible for providing quick but pragmatic solutions, not EU semantics?
Quote: TEFU Article 6:
The Union shall have the competence to carry out actions to support, coordinate or supplement the actions of the Member States. The areas of such action shall, at the European level (=EU level), be:
(a) protection and improvement of human health-
Q: What kind of support or coordination did the EU give to Members throughout the developing stages of the Corona outbreak?
I recall that the EU President Mrs. Ursula von der Leyen called on Members to keep the EU inner borders open- “regardless”. A typical semantic EU “conceptual” but one-sided advice.
The courageous, quick & good leadership of several EU national leaders (France, Austria, etc.) did not reflect the (uncalled) semantics of the EU leadership! Who syncs whom & who advises whom?
Sorry, but “leaderless EU leaders” failed to protect. Similar to Mrs. Merkel’s un-synced “welcome all” during the migration crises. Nothing learned?
Shouldn’t the protection of everyone’s health & the dissemination of useful scientific info be a major point of discussion in the foreseeable future?
PS: Since I have an unresolved PC/Google problem at the moment, please bear with me should I have double posted my comment. Sorry guys!
Self-correction please:
sorry, the EU population WAS 513 Mio during the good old days. NOW, minus the UK of 67 Mio only 446 Mio “Remainers” left.
Using the usual ratio comparison of dead or infected citizens based on total populations will make the EU the top achiever in assisting this virus to eliminate its people using EU semantic to the last person standing!
Misrepresentations, Deflections, distortions & confusions must end!
We are not doing so well.. Be modest.. We spent a lot for illegal migrants but European have no masks to protect themselves
Protect Europeans first…
Likely not. Italy has an aging population, extremely crammed towns and cities, tons of tourists everywhere, still a very family friendly life (so there is more contact with the elderly) and dense population up north so it might just be the worst suited (western country) for an outbreak such as this
That would make you glad. Isn’t it ?
No Way! The USA is far away from Europe or China. There is even an assumption that the USA infected China with this Virus in the first place. This is Evil if you ask me.
Dear Uknown or Unknown Warrior,
In times like this using untested conspiracy theories (by a few) will only increase stigmatization of the “others” (majority) to the detriment of fighting such virus successfully as a global united community!
Please desist the habit of spreading superstitions from your ancestors!
According to this video, Dr Redfield had actually admitted that among some of the 2019 influenze which had infected almost 3000K Americans and claimed life of almost 20K, some are diagnosis COVID-2019. In this sense, a huge no. of infected or deceased relating to COVID-2019 had been largely ignored.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y_dU2RCqWs4
i really think Spai is overwhelmed by the situatio.