What do computer viruses teach us about biological viruses? One answer is that out of the list of what people should do in defense, they'll pick the easiest instead of most effective, and then do it wrong.
"I'm protecting myself by using disinfectant when washing my hands".
"I'm protecting myself by using disinfectant when washing my hands".
The list is:
1. don't go out, stay at home whenever you can
2. when going out, distance yourself
3. wear a mask to avoid infecting others
4. wash your hands more often with soap, or use anti-viral hand sanitizer
Them: I'll use anti-bacterial wipes to clean my hands.
1. don't go out, stay at home whenever you can
2. when going out, distance yourself
3. wear a mask to avoid infecting others
4. wash your hands more often with soap, or use anti-viral hand sanitizer
Them: I'll use anti-bacterial wipes to clean my hands.
Them: "But when I went to the restaurant I made sure to wipe down the table with these anti-bacterial wipes".
Me: "Anti-bacterial isn't the same as anti-viral, so you are largely just spreading the virus around instead of killing it".
Them: "but they say they kill 99% of germs"
Me: "Anti-bacterial isn't the same as anti-viral, so you are largely just spreading the virus around instead of killing it".
Them: "but they say they kill 99% of germs"
Many people can't stay at home. And frankly, it isn't needed. Other countries show that it's simply a matter of ENOUGH people staying at home that'll bring R₀ from 1.1 (disease is spreading exponentially) to 0.9 (disease is dying out).
