“We are shutting down the world economy”
The USA did not shut down the world economy. The USA did not order the factories closed, China did in order to contain an outbreak.
The stock markets crash because of a broke supply chain cause by the close factories in China. The corporation need to diversify there factor locations.
Yes the USA needs to focus on mitigation for the elderly. Nursing homes need to restrict visitors. Everybody else need to stay home if sick, and if you must visit your parent or grand parent wear a mask until it is all clear.
“Another old person” I would greatly miss my mother, aunt or uncle if they were to pass away from the this virus.
This devastates China's long term goal of being able to, at the flick of a switch, shut down any other country's economy.
They did it anyway.
If you know nothing else about this disease, that fact alone should give you pause.
That is why I said to focus mitigation efforts on elderly populations. I have old people I love too, but I know we shouldn’t be creating so much panic for people under 60. Fortunately, I now am hearing anecdotal evidence that younger people are catching on that there is a significant difference in outcomes for them vs. the elderly.
Hopefully, that will tame the cowardly calls for heavy handed authoritarian forced quarantine.