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Comment by count_zero | Hacker News Reader

The US is about 11 days behind Italy, with approximately the same growth rate (keeping in mind this is only counting confirmed cases).

Compare the "Total Coronavirus Cases" charts: https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/italy/ https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/us/

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But the question is whether the social distancing being implemented across the US will reduce the rate of growth. There’s been drastic action taken this past week.

I mean it's very state by state right now and in disarray. In NYC they've tried to ban public events and large gatherings; no public schools are being shut down and it's pretty much whatever each entity decides. It's a hard choice to make in a city like this, but I feel we are on the "not doing enough" side of things. I think for the US they are definitely trying to weigh the economic cost so that's just competing with the heath cost. I guess time will tell.

Different major cities are likely to experience different outcomes, by chance and by actions taken. Maybe we’ll hear of overwhelmed hospitals in some areas of the country. But I’m hopeful that the US has enacted social distancing measures at an earlier stage of the spread than did Italy.

Boston just canceled public school until the week of April 27.

Based on what’s about to happen, the schools won’t be able to reopen, because it’ll be too dangerous.

I am not seeing much social distancing. People are talking about it, but I don't think people are really doing it. I see pictures of other countries where people are visibly standing 3-6 feet apart, everywhere. Here people are standing in groups in the supermarket telling jokes as they're stocking up, as if they're involved in a light-hearted roleplay of a pandemic.

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