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I have never seen this scale of sacrifice for this scale of Quality Adjusted Life Years. Just the impact on the kids missing school will be worse than the impact from the virus.

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Just because you've not seen something doesn't mean its not happened. The sad reality is that people all over the world have lived like this forever. Warzones, undeveloped countries, etc.

Afghanistan hasn't been safe or stable enough for literally decades. Syria has had a civil war for many years. Much of Mali has been under the grip of religious extremists for years.

I don’t think you and I are talking about the same thing. I’m talking about a societal/governmental decision to sacrifice the quality of life of the entire society for the benefit of some vulnerable group. Not civil wars or ethnic cleansing or other atrocities.

What, in your expert opinion, would be the total impact of letting the virus run out of control?

There's a large gap between "let run out of control" and "stay locked indoors when the disease has been controlled." A gradual reopening starting now can find the place on the spectrum that works.

Good thing that this very article announces a gradual reopening started now, then.

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