If younger generations fancy themselves uniquely and virtuously pro-science, now would be an excellent time to listen to scientists and health experts who are more or less begging Millennials and GenZers to do their part in stopping the spread of Coronavirus. On consecutive days, Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx -- the White House's top two medical point people on the pandemic -- made specific appeals to people under 40. We've been doing the same, noting that youth is not an automatic shield against the virus, and urging people to get serious about social distancing and other mitigation measures. Please listen to the authorities:
Dr. Fauci re-emphasizes point made by Dr. Birx about essential role for younger folks in stopping spread of Covid-19. "I know you don't want to do that, you don't want to put your loved ones at risk." pic.twitter.com/vmka1MfZmL
— Caleb Howe (@CalebHowe) March 17, 2020
Millennials are the key to stopping coronavirus, said Dr. Birx, one of Trump's key health advisers.
— POLITICO (@politico) March 16, 2020
"Because they're the ones that are out and about ... But millennials can speak to one another about how important it is in this moment to protect” everyone https://t.co/gp65SNkBiw pic.twitter.com/8P9RGa65fP
Over to you, spring breakers:
MILLENNIALS ARE THE KEY: That's what Dr. Birx says. Today at #ClearwaterBeach, I asked many about social distancing and #coronavirus. They said it's important, but... pic.twitter.com/zrSUe5FauZ
— Jennifer Holton FOX 13 (@jennholtonFOX) March 17, 2020
In fairness, this is self-selecting idiocy. Only certain types of people go on spring break trips under these circumstances, and even fewer are willing to discuss their selfish recklessness on camera. Many younger Americans are doing precisely what Fauci et al are advising. And of course another big problem is convincing older Americans to take this seriously, which far too many have not been doing -- at least until very recently. If you're in the demographic crosshairs of this disease, and you're muttering about "hoaxes" or whatever, I'm not sure I can help you. Those would be the age-traitors in the generational 'war' the Wall Street Journal wrote about yesterday. Plenty of young people appear to need reminders about how their conduct not only puts others at risk, but also, potentially themselves. Here's an NBC News story rehearsing some of the examples I highlighted in this post, and then there's this guy:
I have it. Don’t sleep on this thing people. I’m a very healthy type I diabetic. My body is fighting it very well but it’s kicking my ass. Don’t be a moron. Stay home! pic.twitter.com/X0Lb2FYE6z
— Justin (@jwdaddy80) March 17, 2020
He's not yet 40. What had he been spending his time doing in recent weeks? Mocking the media's "overreaction" to...Coronavirus. Oops. Don't be a moron, indeed. Learn from other people's mistakes, whether on an individual or national level (these stats are from yesterday):
??NEW #Coronavirus #COVID19 toll from Italy. The appalling, endless Spoon River continues. This sounds like war. ??
— Antonello Guerrera (@antoguerrera) March 17, 2020
• 26,062 infected (2,989 more than yesterday, when it was +2,470)
• 2,503 dead (+345. Yesterday +349)
• 2,941 recovered (+192. yesterday +414)
Remember this example about 'flattening the curve' within Italy, comparing two cities' divergent responses? The locality that was slow to act has seen a spike in cases, and the results are now playing out in real time:
#Bergamo ???? #COVID19 lessons:
— Rachel Donadio (@RachelDonadio) March 17, 2020
—high infection rate among EMTs and ambulance drivers
—keep mild/moderate cases at home to prevent spreading hospitals
—Many more Covid19+ are asymptomatic. "The ICU is the tip of the iceberg"
—Hospitals in U.S., Europe must ORGANIZE IN ADVANCE pic.twitter.com/XKxgJyrxDm
And since I've been blitzing you with plenty of bad news, including these worrisome projections, feel free to read this post for a more hopeful hypothesis from a respected epidemiologist .