So, while the COVID-19 pandemic is definitely a major deal, let's talk about something that most don't want to:

Eventually, the world is going to have to open back up to some extent, and it's going to be long before we have a vaccine. Indefinite lockdowns aren't feasible at all.

I'm not one of those protestors who thinks we should open up everything, or that this is "just a flu" or that we don't need to adhere to guidelines. We absolutely do, and we can't just live life like we did before this pandemic. However, we are going to need to eventually open.

The reality of the situation is that we locked down to flatten the curve and ensure healthcare workers on the frontlines would be able to manage incoming patients, instead of being overloaded like Italy was. It was never meant to be a long-term, multiple year long lockdown.

Most of the world, especially the US, have bungled the lockdown measures. If we really wanted to contain the spread, we should have done a full fledged lockdown, which includes no air travel. All we have done is remain partially open, allowing the virus to still get out there.

Eventually, people are going to have to ask themselves if the risk is worth taking. The world, the economy and the mental stability of people cannot gamble on a vaccine that could take more than two years. Johns Hopkins does NOT expect there to be a vaccine for over two years.

It is very sad when people lose their lives. That goes without saying. Whether it's AIDS, COVID or the flu. It's a terrible, tragic thing. And believe me, I know. Myself, my girlfriend, my mom and others I care about are dangerously at risk. I have severe asthma. It could take me

It is already currently estimated that the vast majority of people will eventually come down with COVID-19. The question is "when," not "if" I will get the virus for most people (especially in cities), including myself. I can't stop working, or else bills will start to pile up.

As with the majority of pandemics, all we can do is restrict certain things, take precautions and find a way to live as safely as possible within this new normal. This isn't selfish in any way. There are ways to live some semblance of a life without putting people in harm's way.

And before people accuse me of it: No, I don't support Trump. No, I don't want the world to just open back up the way it was before the pandemic. Yes, I do care about disabled people. I have a chronic illness that has hospitalized me many times this past year. I'm not privileged.

Everything I'm saying has been said by doctors. The University of Minnesota even stated that the lockdowns were to flatten the curve, and that the world will have to live with the virus as it has spread too far. The EU is also saying similar. This is a majority opinion.

What we can do is decide what we want to do, where we can go, and how we can mitigate this. Let governments guide us, while also making our own informed decisions. We did this in past pandemics, and sadly, we have to do this during COVID-19. There is no easy solution.

And every life does matter, and it does matter more than the economy or some stock number, but the economy collapsing will pretty much kill as many people as this pandemic already has. It will literally ruin entire lives that can't just be rebuilt when this all ends.

We've only been locked down for two months, and it's causing the economy to reach a Great Depression level of economic downturn. The damage has been done. If we do this for two years, there won't be any more reserves to support us, and we'll be rebuilding for decades to come.

Crazy similar timing, but just today, Dr. Fauci actually repeated my points made in this thread. https://www.cnbc.com/2020/05/22/dr-anthony-fauci-says-staying-closed-for-too-long-could-cause-irreparable-damage.html