A second wave of the coronavirus is on the way. When it arrives, we will lack the will to deal with it.
Despite all the sacrifices of the past months, the virus is likely to win.
My latest @TheAtlantic.
[Thread.]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
Despite all the sacrifices of the past months, the virus is likely to win.
My latest @TheAtlantic.
[Thread.]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
According to current forecasts, cases of COVID are likely to double in the next two months.
And that’s based on numbers that don’t yet reflect the impact of mass protests over police brutality or the recent reopening of much of the country, including the casinos in Las Vegas.
And that’s based on numbers that don’t yet reflect the impact of mass protests over police brutality or the recent reopening of much of the country, including the casinos in Las Vegas.
Even so, the disease is slowly starting to recede from the public’s attention. After months of dominating media coverage, COVID-19 has largely disappeared from the front pages of most national newspapers.
But though it *feels* like the pandemic is receding, it just isn’t.
But though it *feels* like the pandemic is receding, it just isn’t.
Could we quash a second wave? Doubtful.
In April, 9 out of 10 Republicans trusted medical experts about corona. Now, about one in three do.
The number of people who favor “reopening the economy as soon as possible” over “staying home as long as necessary” has also increased.
In April, 9 out of 10 Republicans trusted medical experts about corona. Now, about one in three do.
The number of people who favor “reopening the economy as soon as possible” over “staying home as long as necessary” has also increased.
Public opinion is even more polarized than it was before. People are fed up of lockdowns. The election is looming.
→ Any attempt to deal with a resurgence of the virus is likely to be even more haphazard, contentious, and ineffective than it was the first time around.
→ Any attempt to deal with a resurgence of the virus is likely to be even more haphazard, contentious, and ineffective than it was the first time around.
Whose fault is it if the virus wins?
Many books and academic articles will investigate that question in the next decades. It’s too early to write a first draft of history.
But I do offer a partial list of culprits.
Many books and academic articles will investigate that question in the next decades. It’s too early to write a first draft of history.
But I do offer a partial list of culprits.
If the virus does win, then, it is because American elites, experts, and institutions have fallen short—and continue to fall short—of the grave responsibility with which they are entrusted in ways too innumerable to list.
A month ago, I started drafting a very different article:
“If—a big if—we manage to contain the pandemic, and avert millions of deaths, it would constitute one of the greatest achievements in human history.”
I kept waiting for the facts to warrant my optimism. They never did.
“If—a big if—we manage to contain the pandemic, and avert millions of deaths, it would constitute one of the greatest achievements in human history.”
I kept waiting for the facts to warrant my optimism. They never did.
We were on the brink of doing something incredible. Instead, we are about to surrender to our needlessly cruel fates.
Pandemics reveal the true state of a society. Ours has come up badly wanting.
Pandemics reveal the true state of a society. Ours has come up badly wanting.
Twitter threads can never fully summarize articles. I fear this is especially the case for this one.
So please do read it over @TheAtlantic—and kindly spread the word?
[End.]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
So please do read it over @TheAtlantic—and kindly spread the word?
[End.]
theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/…
