Flatten

Here in Minnesota where I live, just a few dozen people have tested positive for corona virus. But store shelves look surprisingly sparse as people stock up. Many events have closed. For some, it looks like media-induced panic that's unjustified.

But there's a different narrative that might explain why extreme measures (like school closings) are taken despite the fact that only a small portion of the population seems affected so far. It's something that medical professionals call "flattening the curve."

They expect a large number of people will be infected. But instead of a very fast spread of the disease, a big spike of infections, the number of cases will be spread out over a couple of months - because of the strategies being taken to slow it down.

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With a slower spread of the virus, hospital and health care providers will not be overwhelmed. Lives will be saved and the social impact will be mitigated. That's the narrative. 

from Forbes