No test, no entry
-
If the US goal was to have a non-unified response that left small businesses open then shut then part open, then part shut, etc, and people having a fear of going to eat in restaurants or any other public spots, while at the same time having a large number of sickness and death, then the goal was successful.
Countries like Taiwan, Thailand, etc are not perfect, but for them by extending the "bubble" across the whole country, they have at least allowed some sense of "normal" with regards to businesses within the country. Has the economy had some effect? Of course, but probably not any worse than the US.
-
If the US goal was to have a non-unified response that left small businesses open then shut then part open, then part shut, etc, and people having a fear of going to eat in restaurants or any other public spots, while at the same time having a large number of sickness and death, then the goal was successful.
Countries like Taiwan, Thailand, etc are not perfect, but for them by extending the "bubble" across the whole country, they have at least allowed some sense of "normal" with regards to businesses within the country. Has the economy had some effect? Of course, but probably not any worse than the US.
I cannot begin to guess what the US' goal was or has been. I know this much from this country which is a confederation, that the goal varied from province to province.
Some like the Atlantic provinces and the northern territories sought to minimize the spread of the virus and eradicate it altogether. In the first wave the Atlantic provinces were quite successful by building a bubble and closing off the provinces to all but essential business traffic into and out of the region. Although the Atlantic bubble was abandoned during the second wave, the Atlantic region has managed to keep cases low by maintaining clear rules for retail businesses, closing schools and enforcing rules limiting public gatherings. The Northwest Territories up north, has thus far been successful at keeping the virus pretty much out of its jurisdiction altogether through strict travel requirements and quarantine measures. Life there is pretty much normal.
Elsewhere in the country the goals have been pretty much limited to minimizing the spread through voluntary compliance and short term closures of various retail outlets and schools. Some areas have more stringent measures in place than others and it can even vary among local areas within each province.
Here in Alberta for example, you can be fined if you entertain guests in your house unless you live alone and then you are allowed one guest. This rule has been in place since before Xmas. Is it working? Possibly, although the I believe the numbers are coming down more because bars, restaurants and the fact that middle and high schools were closed from December 15 until January 11. Now that the schools have be reopened, I suspect we will see numbers start creeping back up again next week.
However if there is one general request across the board, the overall recommendation is avoid all non essential personal travel within the country and abroad. That means have a staycation at home and don't leave the country unless it is absolutely necessary or your job is such that you must travel out your city or abroad for work.
