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Comment by SimplyUnknown | Hacker News Reader

I don't know if you live in the Netherlands, but stating "only certain businesses like brothels have been suspended" is a massive understatement of the impact of the "intelligent lockdown" as it is called.

Bars, gyms, schools have been closed for two months now. Only a few restaurants offer take-out and more offer delivery. Dining in is not possible. Work-from-home is default for everyone I know. Nursing homes have only just been allowing visitors again.

It is true that the Netherlands was not locked down, but people definitely are not going normal about their lives.

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> It is true that the Netherlands was not locked down, but people definitely are not going normal about their lives.

True, it's even better than normal.

Let's not pretend that the extent of California's reaction to the coronavirus is even comparable to that of Netherlands, Japan, etc..

Can you give an example of something that’s hugely different? Reading https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/mar/16/california-cor... and https://news.ycombinator.com/item?id=23269838, I don’t see huge ones.

I would think the main difference in effect on suicide rates (if any) is in the system of government benefits. It’s less stressful to lose your job in the Netherlands than in the USA.

I think it also is telling that the governor of one of the richest parts of one of the richest countries in the world deemed it necessary to say “garbage collection will continue.”

> True, it's even better than normal.

That's definitely not true.

> Let's not pretend that the extent of California's reaction to the coronavirus is even comparable to that of Netherlands, Japan

You are right, it's not. But that wasn't the point. But pretending that California is the only one suffering and taking measures while the Netherlands or Japan are not is also out of touch with reality.

To the extent that it's relevant to the article in the OP, it could sure be better than normal for a lot of people. Working from home where previously it was not available, minimum wage being paid for people forced to stay home. It's basically a forced vacation. I'm sure some business owners are unhappy, but frankly I find reduced suicide rate predictable.

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