By "healthcare experts" I was referring to the people at the top of the various government agencies who didn't have the nuts to speak out forcefully.
I know for a fact there were many people in the private sector (epidemiologists, researchers, etc.) who were alarmed very early on, and at least a few mid and lower level government types, who probably simply don't carry enough weight to have an impact.
That doesn't excuse their weakazz bosses
The message was not delivered with the proper urgency by the people at the top........imho.
I'd like to know WHY!

Fear of losing a job, probably a high paying job? Maybe they tried and were told to fuq off? Who knows.

The Chinese government did a fine job spinning their BS, which contributed greatly to this mess, but that's going to eventually unravel on them.

KingoftheCove wrote:

And that is one of the problems I have with this administration. Their science phobia got in the way. And trust me their gag orders and information embargo is something to behold. This time it contributed to a disaster.

teedubbya wrote:

8 I never intended to work for the government. I was recruited and my headhunter told me to stay no more than 2 years or I would be branded.

One of the refreshing things I found was transparency. I kept very few secrets like I had to in the private for profit or not for profit world. Not loose lips sink ships but straight forward truth telling with no proprietary crap to protect. Foia ruled the day and if it was foiable we pretty much just released things.

It was one of the upsides and refreshing.

That has changed in recent years. It’s unsettling. And I do believe it’s hurt us.

teedubbya wrote:

Al, this is a wake up call for the world. The world wasn't prepared. The world has acted to slowly. The world needs to learn from this and plan a world wide step by step procedure for a pandemic. Fortunatly the morbidity rate is low, about 1/2 %, possibly lower. What if a pandemic occurs with a 30% morbidity rate?

Speyside wrote:

Al, this is a wake up call for the world. The world wasn't prepared. The world has acted to slowly. The world needs to learn from this and plan a world wide step by step procedure for a pandemic. Fortunatly the morbidity rate is low, about 1/2 %, possibly lower. What if a pandemic occurs with a 30% morbidity rate?

Speyside wrote:

Not true. I was. I am. For me and mine. There are a bunch of us actually.

Not everyone is laying around watching tiger king and lolly gagging. Some of us are keeping a weather eye out on the world. I've been prepping since the first outbreaks in November, and got seriously motivated when it hit Hong Kong. I knew right then we were toast. Too much traffic in and out at the Chinese New Year.

Folks give us ****, but when things go south, we're the ones stepping up and pulling the rest out.

Doesn't mean I can't still get it, but I'm minimizing our risk factors the the best that I can manage them.

USNGunner wrote: