Very good post. Thanks.
If you will indulge me I think of Dr. Susan Gerber who is Team Lead of Respiratory Viruses Branch at CDC. Under her is John Watson who is Respiratory Viruses Surveillance and Outbreak Support and others who watch for these things. I am never one to stop you whipping up on these folks, but I am at a loss as to how they could have done differently. I understand about the faulty test kits, but it was an honest error wasn't it?
I was a little confused by what you said about them, that they were to "hit the pause button" AND "take more drastic measures." Not disagreeing, because I really did not understand that part of your post. Forgive me if I nitpick, because this was a good post thanks!
Most likely it was an honest mistake, however, even honest mistakes can have drastic consequences. One of the biggest problems I see was the centralization of making the CDC the sole source for test kits. To limit such a major important cog in the fight against viruses has shown to be the absolute least efficient way of handling crisis situations where time is of the essence.
When I was speaking of the pause button, I was really speaking of actions taken after we had gotten behind the 8 ball so to speak. Because now you enter into the haste makes waste category, and a regroup needs implemented to examine the best way to move forward.
I was not speaking strictly of the CDC. While the CDC may have played a major part in recommending the drastic measures, such as mass closures of events and schools, followed closely with the closure of businesses whose primary function is to serve the public in basics such as food preparation and service thereof in small contained environments, that these probably became necessary measures to retard further spread of the virus. That the issues which had delayed the ability to identify infections that had already spread, the pause button was likely employed to keep from creating additional breakdowns that were likely to occur. The min one being, the country's healthcare institutions becoming overwhelmed. Because once that occurs because of one issue, this virus, then it creates a domino or snowball like affect and now you have several maladies that can no longer be tended to. That becomes a recipe for real disastrous outcomes.
So to prevent that from occurring I do not take issue, as some here do, for the pause that was initiated.
It was the right move to take. While many were convinced that herd immunity would win the day, which is most likely what will ultimately win the day, there would be lots of tragedy along that route as well. So while it may be what finally wins the day, perhaps it is not the best course to tack along at this juncture. Let's get as much of a handle as we can on this virus. Of course the pause cannot be overdone because realities of life make that option a brief one at best.
Since the pause we have gotten those who want to test everything to the point of what amounts to ridiculousness when time is an unavoidable factor, to relent and allow a more immediate form of real world testing to occur. That fact alone has brought about a change that will most save lives that would be lost otherwise. It has also allowed others to work on tests that give faster results. That too will be instrumental in saving lives.
Now we all need to pray that this pause has been a beneficial one that will help us along with the Lord's good grace to overcome this threat to mankind.
I know a long winded answer to what was really a simple question, but hopefully it will eliminate further questions that might have arisen if I had tried to keep is more condensed. I also know that talk is cheap and that these are just my opinions on the subject, so thanks for for having the patience to indulge me. 8>)