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Comment by pcmonk | Hacker News Reader

Seven weeks ago there were ~100 cases in Wuhan, now there's 60k. What's to stop that from happening in Seattle, or the Bay, or anywhere else in the developed world that isn't taking the precautions China did?

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Absolutely nothing. It is likely that Seattle is already out of control. But, we won't know how bad its going to be for a week or two. King County buying a motel to house sick people is rather telling. Its an action that suggest they know it is going to be bad but don't want to say so and freak people out.

I think it is going to be worse in the US than China. We have an individualist culture that routinely goes to work sick.

> We have an individualist culture that routinely goes to work sick.

And a lack of a social safety net to help people avoid going to work sick.

This is going to be the real issue, in my opinion. People will go to work sick because they have no other choice. And it'll spread. And, who knows, we might even have some crazy-ass cult here that purposefully goes in sick and tries to spread it (I read an article that Korea had a cult like that).

It's frustrating. We have no office hours and staff can work anywhere with internet - and anytime so long as they get work done. They are salaried no incentive to show up at offie whatsoever. We've sent emails, reminded at in person meetings. Yet they still show up coughing. One employee like every minute a dry cough.. We talked to them in person, sent them home. And then they show up two days later same cough if not worse! The excuse: i had an in person meeting!!!

drives me insane. I can only do so much and really feels like the only thing I can control is my exposure but I don't want to over react and become a hermit

if we cant get our salaried staff who can already work from anywhere to stay home I feel scared that there's no way in hell hourly service workers would do it.

There are at least 6 people on my team who come into work when they are sick. All of us can work from home, have excellent medical insurance, and are on salary. I asked in a staff meeting and was told that telling or suggesting people go home violates their right to privacy.

We also have a lot of people who can't afford to take a day off work or go to the doctor, so they go in sick because of that.

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