Joe Luca
3 min readApr 16, 2020

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As I consider what this doctor has to say, my mind ends up in a split decision. He is right, in that I don’t think quarantine is a total solution; it’s purpose is to lower the curve, prevent overloaded medical systems, keep contagion under control. But he’s wrong in that — we simply don’t know enough yet, so there’s every reason to believe this virus will act like other viruses — why wouldn’t it. Or act completely different — why couldn’t it?

The problem with statistical models is that they are proven useful until they no longer are. As more data comes into play, the models change and what was good three days ago, is now decidedly bad.

For me, the bottom line is that our health system both sucks and gets the job done. It’s organizationally designed like Target or Walmarts and not a true health system. It’s profit driven, like most everything else here. Thus is reacts more to economic pressures rather than adapting to emerging global issues. It’s not solution oriented; it’s service driven. The countries — from what I see here in Los Angeles — that handled Covid-19 better than most have national health systems. Germany, Sweden, South Korea, and a few others - did things differently. They also had a more pragmatic approach initially. Let’s find those that are sick and isolate them. They observed. They tested. They reacted. They isolated. This is not exactly genius — but it’s practical.

Here … we waited. We discussed. We denied. We blamed. Then those who could (governors and mayors) acted. They followed the above mentioned non-genius approach because it made sense. And it’s working to do what it (the current quarantine solution) was intended to do — slow the pace of infection down, keep systems from overloading.

When you have a small fire and you go out and observe it (leaving the fire extinguisher in the garage) and you watch it spread. And think about it. And call your friend. And think about it some more. Then race back to the garage to get the extinguisher — well, the fire has already consumed your house and your neighbors and that small red canister will do jack shit to fix the problem because you waited too long to act. This also, is not genius.

We’re looking at what’s happening in the fog of panic and concern and a complete lack of direction & leadership. Even the most state-of-the-art, man made creation is subject to human error… The Titanic comes to mind.

No system would have been perfect to handle Covid-19. For fuck sake’s, the virus leaped from animal/mammal to man, in a heartbeat, and started scorching the landscape. But we don’t need perfect, we need an efficient, well-funded national system, linked together, operating as one unit, with the purpose of keeping us as well and safe as is possible.

In 30 days, half of what we now know will be replaced by things we didn’t. It’s inevitable. Our best tools to fight this, is rational thought and a strong immune system. It’s what has worked in the past and will again. Why wouldn’t it?

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Joe Luca
Joe Luca

Written by Joe Luca

Top Writer in Humor and Satire. I love words. Those written, and those received. I’m here to communicate & comment. To be a part of a greater whole.

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