"Because the "others' harping on the high number of infections in places like Florida and Texas are allegedly medical professionals "
I guess these are "others" with which I am not familiar. And I do not know the definition of "harping." Would would I give a crap about that? Noise. Not signal.
As for the importance of looking at infection rates, I suggest you do some reading/learning in the public health space. Likely on-line courses. One of my consulting clients (he is in strategic consulting and venture capital) has an MPH. His wife is an MD, MPH. My client had an interesting several hour conversation with Dr. Fauci on a plane ride a year or so ago. But not about pandemics. Anyway, I speak with my client about the relationship between infection rates and morbidity, mortality and cost. We have both had high level statistics training, but even a smart 5th grader can understand this stuff... if their minds are open.
One of my close friends is an expert on vaccines (clinical evaluation), and she is married to a CEO of a vaccine company. Not gonna say which one. They certainly understand what is going on.
Like I have said, regarding economic impact, the picture is far bigger than what I see discussed in these forums.
Lots of business folk on the private side are thinking about a new future... for example in the strategy consulting biz:
https://www.innosight.com/insight/navigating-the-covid-19-disruption/
Need to ping their CEO soon... learn more about their biz.
The future will be different from the past.
If we "open everything up," will Ford, GM, Chrysler and the rest sell more cars? If Sweet Tomatoes hadn't shuttered, would people have shown up when restaurants were allowed to open (albeit at a lower capacity)?
This thread has the title "Sweden did it Wrong." I do not know whether that is true or not.
Heard part of an interesting Podcast today... Dr. Osterholm at CIDRAP. He has had some interesting things to say.
I am sure that like many other he gets death threats.
Why is that?