N italy here: cops can now stop individuals for 'being out without good reason'. and even going to work, or medical visits, needs printed (self) permission that can be vetted by patrols. I saw a group of three people outside a gelateria, today - morons. Any authority that allows any groups to gather is being wrong. Hate to say it, but the italian government is doing the right thing - minimize the risks. I do expect panics and social unrests early next week, though, especially when the cops and carbs start getting sick.
It is kind of crazy that declaring martial law and forcibly quarantining people is still a more politically acceptable move that the more organized, scientific, and transparent approach of South Korea.
If they tried that in the US, the outcry would be deafening. (Especially with the current president. There would certainly be people accusing him of nefarious intent.)
I think it is probably a good way to decrease human interaction. But it's not politically feasible everywhere.
Everything becomes politically feasible once the public appetite is changed by events. All the post 9/11 events in the US (Patriot act, Iraq war) would not have been politically feasible pre 9/11.
Man, I would have said the same about Italy two months ago. Even last weekend people were still carelessly going out. But the tide has turned, the numbers now are too big to ignore.
That’s not the stated reason at least. It’s to deliver food and run a mobile test station. A reporter asked the governor if he had the authority to ban gatherings in that containment zone and he sidestepped it and said that thus far all parties have been in agreement.
Wow, I would not have figured governor Andrew Cuomo (Democrat) would take such an action. He would know it would expose him to criticisim-- aside from the action itself, I respect that he took strong action without regard for the blowback.
