‘It looks like a war zone’: NJ docs say hospitals under siege, supplies low | Hacker News Reader

‘It looks like a war zone’: NJ docs say hospitals under siege, supplies low

nj.com

I live in Bergen County. There is a lack of panic - although I'm on the north side, opposite of the most infected parts.

I went grocery shopping earlier today, there were a few people with masks but no one was really trying to keep a distance from others. Plenty of people there, perhaps a few less than usual. At times there are so many people that they have to restrict entry into the store and create a line outside (possibly to help with social distancing, but there are still too many people in the store for that to matter). It's the opposite of social distancing.

The disaster in NYC, and the counties immediately north/east of Bergen (Westchester, Rockland) is going to spill over. We're not going to be able to handle it and we don't have the clout of NY to push for more resources.

In a recent video, 3Blue1Brown wrote "The only thing to fear is a lack of fear itself." This is what worries me. My parents are at risk as long-time smokers and if Valley runs out of ventilators and PPE, our major/usual option is out.

(excellent video by the way) https://youtu.be/Kas0tIxDvrg

> no one was really trying to keep a distance from others

Get ready then. I'm in WA, at the former epicenter, and the distancing is pretty pervasive. WA managed to get to the point where growth in cases is linear and decreasing, it looks like. NJ graphs look pretty scary right now.

Same here in yet-to-be-hit pocket at other side of US, SoCal. Hardware store staff conferring with grey-haired customers at 2' distance. No sanitizer anywhere.

Even on this site where people are somewhat more technically oriented than the general public, you see people who haven't a fucking clue what an exponential function looks like. NYS is expecting the peak 2 weeks from now. The numbers are Not Good. ICU's will certainly be overwhelmed and doctors will have to choose who must die. I don't think the healthcare system in NY will collapse but it will be tenuous even with the field hospitals they're setting up.

I think in large parts of the country where people aren't taking this seriously, the healthcare system will collapse and it will be awful. Especially if national leaders push to end lockdown very prematurely.

Hey président says beautiful virus will leave by Easter and all beautiful creatures will be fine and prosperous. 60% of Americans agree too.

He's making the big boy pants decisions. The Great Depression was horrible, men killed each other for fishing too much from the river, children ate bugs to stay alive, families forced to separate to ensure everyone was fed. There is a risk in staying shutdown anywhere we don't absolutely need it, but of course, there is a risk in opening up anywhere at all. Not a political commentary, not a political board and do NOT care how many % of Americans YOU think agree with YOU.

I stated the % that agree with him including you. The difference is that here we know it will kill around 1-5%. If there is economic downturn its not going to kill that many. Just look up homicides and suicides from great depression. But it's OK if you guys choose money over life. I'm glad I'm not there. That is not politics by the way, it's a matter of life and death.

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