What would've happened had we aggressively quarantined everyone 65 and over and aggressively quarantined everyone with pre-existing conditions while everyone else kept the world economy thriving.
You would've had young people out of work for a few days with a fever and cough and then they would've been back to work.
Would people have died? Yes. Do they die every single year from the flu? Yes.
What would have happened?
Let's watch Mexico & see what happens there relative to countries which have had economic lock-downs in effect for weeks.
What would have happened is way more infections, loss of health & deaths.
Also with a very good chance of occurring, greater overall damage to the economy in the long term.
Just in terms of the fact there would almost certainly be a greater number of infections & a greater number with damaged health long term & a greater number of deaths, that in itself means greater damage to the economy.
Consider also that as some medical facilities are already being overwhelmed & unable to save dying people, forcing doctors to choose who lives & who dies (e.g. Italy), how much worse & more widespread would be that situation with far more people being infected because Enfuego (as president of the world) lifted the economic shutdown & recommended everyone (except the old & weak) go back to work. Hence even more damage to the economy.
Many more children, teens, & under 50 year old people would suffer horrible illnesses, or worse yet long term health problems, or still worse, death. That can't be good for the economy.
You could try to quarantine everyone with "pre-existing conditions", but many who are not known to have such conditions (Enfuego, maybe?) would go to work, get infected & die.
You would've had young people out of work for a few days with a fever and cough and then they would've been back to work.
A few days? Not if you're ill for weeks or in ICU with a ventilator or dead. And what about this:
The BC Ministry of Health strongly urges anyone who has symptoms to self-isolate for at least 10 days after symptoms start. Symptoms include a fever, cough, sneezing or sore throat. Self-isolation means staying home and limiting your contact with others to help lower the chance of spreading the disease. Self-isolate for 14 days if you have no symptoms but might have been exposed to someone with COVID-19.
You may return to your regular activities if:
- After 10 days if you feel better, and
- Your symptoms have improved, and
- You have had no fever for 72 hours
You may continue to cough for several weeks so coughing alone does not require you to continue to isolate. If your illness worsens or you require medical care because you have a medical condition that puts you at greater risk for severe illness, your health care provider may require you to isolate until testing can confirm that you have recovered from the virus.
If your symptoms worsen, for example you have mild shortness of breath, contact your health care provider or HealthLinkBC (8-1-1) at any time. If you are going to visit your health care provider, call them ahead of time so they can arrange for you to be assessed safely. Wear a mask in order to protect others.
https://www.healthlinkbc.ca/health-feature/coronavirus-disease-covid-19