If the virus had started anywhere but China, would the work ‘lockdown’ even be a thing?

[guitarstringseadgbe]

I can’t help thinking that lockdowns are only a thing because it was how China dealt with it initially. Would they even be a thing I’d say the virus started elsewhere?

The term lockdown makes me shake inside. My husband is self employed. His income is our main income. I never would have believed we would live in a society where people aren’t allowed to work and earn a living.

@Summerfreeze

The so-called 'lockdown' here is nothing like they did in China.

Hence why China are cracking on with their lives and we are all either ill or under lame and increasingly stricter restrictions.

Ah, you’d rather have had your front door welded shut for 8 weeks then?

People have been using quarantine for centuries - it was a big step forward in containing outbreaks of infection.
Quarantines and lockdowns are not the same thing though. Quarantines are movement restrictions. For example you might put a quarantine on Manchester which would mean that people wouldn't be allowed in or out. This was done in the Great Plague.

Social distancing measures (including shutting schools, hospitality, public transport and mass events) were used in the Spanish Flu outbreak, as was mask-wearing.

Lockdowns though? How many outbreak responses in history required the general population to stay at home? I'm not aware of any, the only previous use of the tactic I've found has been following terrorist attacks.

Have we ever faced a pathogen with R of around 3 before?
Because the great trick of this virus is that spreads faster than gunpowder!

The R rate of measles is 12-18!

Yes I know about the measles. It is also airborne if I am not wrong. We are all vaccinated here! The world almost got rid of that illness. Bless the vaccine!
There has been a measles pandemic in a colonised area. I think America. With over 30% deads?
Let me google!

Well I cannot find it now! typical!
I never knew about that number till I googked it today indeed. It is chilling!
So for what I can find online, some authors are giving a higher R(naught) to covid. Higher than 5.