I don't think rob86craig's post was very well written, but I interpret his point as that some point hard decisions are going to have to be made. I recall that game some people posted on Geoexpat regarding AI for auto steering cars, where they were trying to figure out the algorithms for deciding who should die in an inevitable car crash. That algorithm generating exercise also required people to make choices about whose lives were more valuable than others. It seems this virus is another car crash just waiting to happen.Original Post Deleted
At the end of the day, Governments make these decisions every day, when they choose to fund drug A over drug B; divert money to help one group with one problem over another group with another problem.
What should authorities do? At some point, the damage done to the world economy will kill more people than the virus. At some point hospitals will not be able to cope and will need to decide which patients get the limited beds/respiratory equipment. When will we start hearing stories from China about people starving to death in quarantine? I'm sure it's happening or will happen if things don't lighten up. When does that become worse than allowing the virus to spread and older / sicker people to die?
Pretending that Governments are not going to have to make these decisions won't make them go away. Pretending we can 'save everyone' doesn't make it true.
Be thankful the damn thing does not appear to infect kids.