Could the United States soon see mass school closures and quarantines? At least one former government official says it is time the country steps up its efforts to contain the coronavirus.
Former Homeland Security Advisor Tom Bossert, who served under President Donald Trump, wrote in an op-ed published in The Washington Post on Monday that the country needs to start taking drastic measures to contain the outbreak.
“School closures, isolation of the sick, home quarantines of those who have come into contact with the sick, social distancing, telework, and large-gathering cancellations must be implemented before the spread of the disease in any community reaches 1 percent. “
“After that, science tells us, these interventions become far less effective,” he added.
He continued to stress that time is of the essence in preventing the spread of the coronavirus, “Time matters. Two weeks of delay can mean the difference between success and failure.”
Bossert’s comments come as public officials across the country have grappled with how far they should go to stop contain the outbreak. Some cities, such as Seattle and New York City, have urged employees to telework.
Meanwhile, Los Angeles, Calif., proceeded with its marathon on Sunday.
He noted that in countries that have implemented quarantines and closed schools, the spread of the virus seems to have slowed.
“Through isolation, quarantines, contact tracing, canceled gatherings, and widespread surveillance, they have achieved linear growth of the virus, meaning a reproduction number close to one. What they are doing is working.”
Now, Bossert says its time for a coordinated response to the virus, “The United States and other liberal societies must mount a significant, coordinated response with public buy-in.”
Specifically, he suggested that schools across the country should start closing to “to reduce community transmission and to protect the children’s parents and grandparents.”
He added that “panic must, of course, be avoided,” and noted that most people who are infected would experience “what feels like a mild case of seasonal flu.”
However, he warned that if the country does not take swift action, “the rates will be worse if the disease is not aggressively countered early.”
His comments come days after the former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner, Scott Gottlieb, said that cities and states may soon have to consider, essentially, shutting down their economies to contain the spread of the virus.