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# Flattening the Curve
- URL: https://unprecedented.ghost.io/archive/flattening-the-curve/
- Published: 2020-03-13T00:03:10.000Z
- Updated: 2020-03-13T00:03:10.000Z
- Description: As a country, we must all act now to slow down the rate of COVID-19 transmission
- Author: Richard Hine
- Tags: Newsletter, #substack, #substack-type-newsletter, #substack-access-everyone, #Import 2023-04-10 13:40

###### Photo by [ConvertKit](https://unsplash.com/@convertkit?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText) on [Unsplash](https://unsplash.com/s/photos/on-the-couch?utm%5Fsource=unsplash&utm%5Fmedium=referral&utm%5Fcontent=creditCopyText)

Just a quick follow-up on this morning’s post urging you to [cancel everything](https://unprecedented.ghost.io/just-dont-do-it/) and stay home as much as possible.

Today, Dr. Anthony Fauci told Congress that America is “[failing](https://www.nbcnews.com/health/health-news/it-failing-let-s-admit-it-fauci-says-coronavirus-testing-n1157036?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io)” to test at the levels necessary to track and mitigate the coronavirus pandemic.

Today, NYC has declared a state of emergency for what Mayor de Blasio says “[could easily be a six-month crisis](https://www.cnbc.com/2020/03/12/new-york-city-declares-state-of-emergency.html?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io).”

Just this evening, President Obama tweeted [this article from ](https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io)*[Vox](https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io):*

> [](https://twitter.com/BarackObama/status/1238238576141352966?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io)

As Eliza Barclay and Dylan Scott write:

> A disastrous inundation of hospitals can likely be averted with protective measures we’re now seeing more of — closing schools, canceling mass gatherings, working from home, self-quarantine, self-isolation, avoiding crowds — to keep the virus from spreading fast.

Young, healthy people are not at the same risk from COVID-19 as older Americans and those with pre-existing conditions. But everyone—young, old and in-between— can play a part in helping slow down the rate of transmission.

Right now—and especially because [symptoms can be spread by people before they show symptoms](https://www.theguardian.com/science/2020/mar/12/coronavirus-most-infections-spread-by-people-yet-to-show-symptoms-scientists?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io)—we the people need to take immediate, drastic action to “flatten the curve” as much as possible. Cancel everything now. Before our hospitals get overwhelmed. Before doctors must start deciding [who lives and who dies](https://www.nytimes.com/2020/03/12/opinion/coronavirus-hospital-shortage.html?ref=unprecedented.ghost.io).