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There is no way you could take “risks” like these a couple of months ago. We simply did not know enough about the virus at the time. Now we have improved treat

There is no way you could take “risks” like these a couple of months ago. We simply did not know enough about the virus at the time. Now we have improved treatment methods significantly, we know ways to drastically reduce the spread of the virus using simple mechanical strategies, and we are confident about the kind of people that are at the least risk. In Germany the virus is also subdued enough that even if something goes wrong, it won’t become a drastic situation immediately. The US isn’t there yet, but thanks to mask wearing and social distancing might be there in a few weeks. So once the conditions were feasible to do such studies, peop,e are doing such studies.

ricardobeat 6y ago
> we have improved treatment methods significantly Have they? I haven't seen anything in the news besides a few practices evolving (prone positioning, avoiding ventilation too early). > we know ways to drastically reduce the spread of the virus using simple mechanical strategies Masks, hygiene, disinfection, distancing, were all known and encouraged since March. We are almost entering September, and my impression is that there hasn't been any new discoveries, other than trial drugs or confirming earlier findings, since late May/June. If anything, you couldn't take those risks earlier because of public opinion, not any practical reasons.
- taejo 6y ago
  Masks were discouraged by many governments in March, even if they were encouraged by others.
  - ricardobeat 6y ago
    That's besides the point; I'm arguing that "we simply did not know enough about the virus at the time" as said by the parent commenter is not really true, and probably irrelevant for why experiments like these did not happen before. For what's worth using facemasks is still being discouraged by the Dutch government as we speak...
- darkerside 6y ago
  Dexamethasone and other medications and the evolving practices you mention are nothing to... sneeze at

ricardobeat 6y ago

> we have improved treatment methods significantly Have they? I haven't seen anything in the news besides a few practices evolving (prone positioning, avoiding ventilation too early). > we know ways to drastically reduce the spread of the virus using simple mechanical strategies Masks, hygiene, disinfection, distancing, were all known and encouraged since March. We are almost entering September, and my impression is that there hasn't been any new discoveries, other than trial drugs or confirming earlier findings, since late May/June. If anything, you couldn't take those risks earlier because of public opinion, not any practical reasons.

taejo 6y ago
Masks were discouraged by many governments in March, even if they were encouraged by others.
- ricardobeat 6y ago
  That's besides the point; I'm arguing that "we simply did not know enough about the virus at the time" as said by the parent commenter is not really true, and probably irrelevant for why experiments like these did not happen before. For what's worth using facemasks is still being discouraged by the Dutch government as we speak...
darkerside 6y ago
Dexamethasone and other medications and the evolving practices you mention are nothing to... sneeze at