Muh Muh Muh My Corona (virus)

What if the lockdowns aren’t what’s hurting business?

 

It's almost like there is this Big Scary Thing out there, and until it is handled, most people are going to reduce their spending. Like, Planet Money had economists on... two months ago, that said practically the same thing. That basically, injecting money into the economy at that point was silly, because nobody was going to be spending until they knew the extent of the pandemic and where their money was *actually* needed.

 

This ought to be obvious. If people are told there's a scary disease out there which passes from human to human and for which there is no cure nor treatment, many, probably most, are going to reduce avoidable contacts no matter what their government does or doesn't do.

 

Stay home and buy a home hair-cutting kit.

 

If someone sneezes in your face you most certainly can. It's about volume as well as time. A shit ton of droplets flying into your eyes, nose and mouth is a danger factor. However, truly casual contact and even a normal conversation of a minute or two do seem to be low risk.

 

I would be very frustrated if someone sneezed in my face despite the known risk of COVID-19.

 

I still have horrible visions of when my wife trimmed the bushes in front of our house.

Haircut version looked something like this:

 

go awaaaaaaaaaay

 

So, with the long incubation period, the USA has entered one vast uncontrolled experiment. Will opening up lead to a big second surge?

Find out in two weeks or so.

 

Pressured by COVID-19, U.S. retail sales sank 16.4% in April

 

That is one of the funniest Leave it to Beaver episodes ever!!

 

Be prepared for a renewed (for the third or fourth time) attack on China. The phrase "Wuhan Virus" will enjoy another peak of use.
There has to be an outlet for Trumpist rage.
When Gov. Trumpfluffer opened Georgia a couple of weeks ago, the AJC had reporters walking around Midtown. They found next to no commercial activity even though retail had been re-opened. Small sample size, of course. New unemployment claims went up this week after a decline.