I don't quite understand the narrative I keep seeing lately.

To start with, at least in my country (Canada), the narrative has never, ever been to 'stop transmission of the virus'. Ever. EG, the narrative has never been to 'stop people from getting it'.

(NOTE: I'm talking about responses from official government officials, not blather in blogs, media, etc)

The only point for the lockdown, was/is to slow down the transmission of the virus, so that hospitals would not be overwhelmed. In other words, as everyone, literally everyone catches it, that those which have a worst-outcome, have the best treatment possible.

That's it.

There's no attempt, or hope, or plan in the lockdown, to stop people from getting the virus. At all.

In this context, the lockdown is not to 'save lives', in the sense of 'people won't get it, and be safe'. So, when the hospitals aren't overwhelmed, when it has been shown that the virus isn't quite as deadly as thought to some, it is entirely logical, and sensible, to open up.

And to that end, it is entirely logical and sensible to insist people return to work. Because unless people become complete and total hermits for years, they'll get it...

One side note here.

I've done a bit of research, and two things stand out:

- Italy, hit bad
- New York, hit bad
- Montreal, certain sectors, hit bad

After a bit of research, I've concluded that one of the high-risk factors is sickle cell anemia. Something tha is VERY common in blacks from Africa, as it does help protect against malaria.

Yet guess what other population group is pre-dispositioned to it? Italians. Due to the Roman Empire's control of Africa.

https://www.sicklecellsociety.org/resource/sickle-cell-anemi...
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/7365760

Who has a large Italian, and Black population? New York. The sectors in Montreal hard hit.

Also note that the Italian population in New York is self reporting, so I suspect the numbers are higher (eg, grandpa was Italian, etc).

Hind sight is a wonderful thing, I would never chastise our governments for locking down, based upon what was happening in Italy. However, combine its aged population AND sickle cell anemia, and ho boy... no wonder!

Now transpose that to the average population in North America. Not quite the same.

Lastly, Ontario/Quebec... have repeatedly stated that there will be a 'second and third' wave. That even if things ebb and stop, soon as the fall comes? It will likely reappear.

I think ... I think it is logical to be concerned for one's safety, but I often look at our ancestors and compared, and I find us wanting. Pre-widespream vaccination (even in the 50s), before many vaccines had been developed, people would think us bananas worrying about all these deaths.

They'd put on masks maybe, but.. so many people died due to childhood and adult viruses.

Even the idea that falling off a ladder, could kill you simply because at one time antibiotics couldn't help if you had even small amounts of internal infection/bleeding. Sulfa drugs just didn't cut it.

Yet... compared to that lifestyle, we're insanely pampered.

But beyond all this? Unless we reopen, we'll all starve and die of other, massive issues.

Want food? You need 1000 little things, all produced by 1000s of industries. Parts for machines, additives, chemicals, transport, and all of that depending upon more and more of our infrastructure and production.

Try to trace, for example, a steel cog for a machine. Or, a chemical used.

You'll find dependencies on dozens of industries / other products, which all depend on OTHER products and industries, on and on. It's all interconnected.

That's how we operate, and there's on way around it.. because no matter what?

PEOPLE CURRENTLY HAVE TO WORK TO MAKE FOOD. Medicine. Houses.

Governments are opening up, because THEY HAVE NO CHOICE.