A great question that we as citizens should demand an answer for. The way I see it the USA* had a very significant buffer window from when the virus started to when it reached the West Coast. In that window we really didn't do anything. So when the outbreak happened it WA it was strange and frankly alarming that we could not preform tests. Testing is the key to containment. S. Korea tested extensively and developed an app to track the inflicted.
Still today we are unable to test in the numbers necessary. We also are extremely short on basic medical supplies, another thing that is inexplicable to me. Why are we incapable of manufacturing at War Scale. You would think a bio-attack would have a very militaristic interest, meaning military stockpiles or factory mandates to switch production over to medical supplies.
Finally the fact that we are enervating our economy means we didn't have a proactive organized response. Me staying home is not a well thought out plan, it is an act of desperation. To be fair at this point probably a needed one, but then again me might be past the point of sheltering in place working. My 2 cents.
* the WHOLE damn USA, not any one political leader, not any one ranking official of the Healthcare system, not any one state.
No argument here about South Koreas response.
However, could you clarify the window you are talking about? Dates perhaps?
Also, two of your points contradict each other. While I agree that testing needs to become more available, I fail to see how the number of tests available would change much. Couple this with what you said about you staying home not being a well thought out plan....isnt that what every nation, yes including south Korea, is doing or did?
And we are simply not going to agree on how we should have somehow been prepared for this economically. No one is prepared for this economically, unless your economy already sucks.
If we had more tests, wouldnt we still be telling people to stay home? Dont we know that
-the virus can be caught by anyone
-the virus can produce severe symptoms leading to pneumonia and death
-the virus can lead to mild cold like symptoms varying in degree
-people can have the virus and have no idea at all; they display no symptoms
-immune compromised and ill members of our society are at greater risk if exposed
-You can expose others even if you have no symptoms
We also know that in order to get the test, regardless of the number of kits available
-you have to want the test
-go to the doctor.
Why would anyone carrying this virus but showing zero to mild symptoms go and get tested, even if tests available?
Also, if someone were to go get tested ad the results were negative, wouldnt they have to return the next day? And the next? And the following and get tested routinely to be sure they never get it?
The point is that we are already doing what we would be doing with more testing: telling people to stay home and avoid crowds. While I agree we need more tests, I think many people are over-valuing what those tests would actually accomplish in ending this. And I think its common human nature to want to feel like we should be doing more even if it doesn't really make a difference. During the red scare we hid students under desks; today we believe testing would somehow cure us.