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How can we return to work without spurring a second surge of coronavirus infection? Biologist Uri Alon shares a thought-provoking strategy: four days at work followed by 10 days of lockdown, a cycle that would exploit a weakness in the virus’s biology and potentially cut its reproductive rate to a manageable level. Learn more about this approach — which has already been adopted by both companies and countries — and how it could be a key to reopening the economy responsibly. (This virtual conversation, hosted by head of TED Chris Anderson and science curator David Biello, was recorded on May 20, 2020.)
The TED Talks channel features the best talks and performances from the TED Conference, where the world’s leading thinkers and doers give the talk of their lives in 18 minutes (or less). Look for talks on Technology, Entertainment and Design — plus science, business, global issues, the arts and more. You’re welcome to link to or embed these videos, forward them to others and share these ideas with people you know. For more information on using TED for commercial purposes (e.g. employee learning, in a film or online course), submit a Media Request here:
cynthia g
May 28, 2020 at 7:51 pm
This guy needs to talk to the president about his idea. It’s brilliant!
Luana Calhau
May 28, 2020 at 7:54 pm
I think it is good idea!!!
Martin Svensson
May 28, 2020 at 7:56 pm
You dont need any other “strategy” than any other year… since no more people have died than before. If you have the flu and feel sick then stay home. Else dont. It has worked for 1000’s of years and is going to work for 1000’s to come. Relax. This has become a complete psychosis. And the numbers dont support it.
Leo Grand
May 28, 2020 at 8:01 pm
Best part is the applause of the audience…HAHAHA.. no we know its fake
Noemi L
May 28, 2020 at 8:08 pm
What kind of nonsense about productivity at home and so on. Clearly people who haven’t been affected by jobs losses, less income, reduced hours, who were not stuck at home with kids who now out of sudden suppose to be home schooled at different levels and are fed up with being locked in the house etc. I can’t listen to this… Someone has to work out of the house, so the other smart ones can stay at home and pretend how productive they can be… 🙄
Norma Wong
May 28, 2020 at 8:15 pm
Americans just need to work. We don’t have the mentality of being afraid of the unknown. These guys are idiots.
Matthew Oberson
May 28, 2020 at 8:26 pm
Literally the most retarded thing I’ve ever heard
Honest Person
May 28, 2020 at 8:41 pm
Could you please interview Neil Ferguson of Imperial College, London?
Zuzu Yoruk
May 28, 2020 at 8:41 pm
I am so sick of this quarantine
Amanda B
May 29, 2020 at 12:58 am
Zuzu Yoruk
I’m sure the people with covid-19 are sick of it too
216trixie
May 28, 2020 at 8:50 pm
Most new cases come from being inside during lockdown. It’s better to be outside.
Elena Chesnokova
May 28, 2020 at 8:55 pm
💜
Fabio Fernandes
May 28, 2020 at 8:57 pm
Does anyone know a platform which isn’t BS and has actual good advice regarding the fake pandepic?
Shada
May 28, 2020 at 9:04 pm
I’d rather trust an Epidemiology than a Systems Biologist on when to open again thanks. Please don’t fucking try and get us killed.
Andrew Knight
May 28, 2020 at 9:16 pm
Seems sensible and in line with latest research, to me. Listen, guys, we want new ideas! Don’t be down on an idea just because it’s novel. Some comments on here strike me as just rude, which to me isn’t helpful.
Nick Kazmarek
May 28, 2020 at 9:43 pm
What’s the evidence that coronavirus can’t spread for 3 days. Can literally anyone provide a scientific reference that isn’t an article for this?
Bulky FN
May 28, 2020 at 10:19 pm
yes.
Daniel Azevedo
May 28, 2020 at 10:58 pm
There’s no scientific evidence for anything. Haven’t you heard? This is the post-truth era. Truth is now irrelevant.
War is peace
Freedom is slavery
Ignorance is power
prodandmullen
May 28, 2020 at 11:20 pm
@Daniel Azevedo love that 1984 reference 😂
MaleAdaptor
May 29, 2020 at 12:05 am
Because the pandemic is a hoax.
cruciferousvegetable
May 28, 2020 at 9:54 pm
This would wipe out manufacturing that requires humans. It would also make a world that would not be very fun to live in. Gyms, live music would be gone.
We need to focus on health and fitness. We need to get people off chronic meds, prevent heart disease, high BP, cancer, diabetes and the steroids and immunosuppressive drugs that are killing people when they catch a cold.
Creep from outerspace
May 28, 2020 at 10:24 pm
Could have followed this 3 months ago? Oh right, no one follows anything, thats why we are still here.
Black Vito - Moneyology
May 28, 2020 at 10:38 pm
Economics is a fascinating subject!
KASPER the FAKE
May 28, 2020 at 10:50 pm
what a horrible proposal. I thought this TED platform was supposed to be a forum for intelligent people! What an embarrassing display of idiocy in high places.
BANKROLLNIKKII C
May 28, 2020 at 10:56 pm
I like his ideas there something worth considering a lot of awesome ideas. 🙋🏽♀️⚖️🌍😷💡
Daniel Azevedo
May 28, 2020 at 11:07 pm
How about a class on the origins of the eugenics movement, it’s proponents and their legacy that is still alive today? How about a class on what population control really means? How about the history of the Gates family and their connection to the eugenics movement, combined with Bill Gates sudden “philantropic” interest in controlling the growth of human population (2009 meeting of the richest) and his track record with GAVI and the ID2020 agenda. Time to wake up
dafttool
May 28, 2020 at 11:35 pm
My exit strategy is to remove that criminal buffoon occupying the White House, by voting to remove the Trump Virus & his virulent GOP minions.
Trump is an existential threat to not only America, but to the entire world.
Come this November,
*We the People* will remember,
Who upheld the *Constitution,*
And who are guilty of corruption.
We have the numbers,
And they can’t get any dumber.
We are taking our country back,
And bringing back *Math, Science & FACTS.*
Let’s hope. 🙏
But better yet, 🇺🇸
*LET’S VOTE!!* 🗽
Interstellarsurfer
May 29, 2020 at 12:01 am
The exit strategy has already been decided, for the USA at least. 👍
Makelle
May 29, 2020 at 12:04 am
When you get infected you will spread the virus each time you make contact until you’re cured. The problem will then be to keep track of and test every contact and quarantine everyone infected . Reminds of the strategies of South Korea and Iceland .
MaleAdaptor
May 29, 2020 at 12:09 am
I thought professors were supposed to have a critical judgment. Why are you discussing a pandemic that does not exist? Look at the latest reports from CDC.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:18 pm
This is not logical. If you go to work or school, you catch the virus and bring it home to your family. Work and school should be accomplished at home as much as possible.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:19 pm
This is not sustainable economically. This may not pertain to future pandemics.
Karandras
May 29, 2020 at 2:55 pm
It’s not sustainable for this economy, the models can change and so can the way of living, it’s human nature.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:38 pm
@Karandras So many are unable to comply.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:28 pm
If certain groups worked 4 days and other groups worked the next 4 days, fewer people would be exposed to each other. Part-time work means part-time pay, which may not be sustainable for most.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:31 pm
Online schools and online work would need to be available on a continuous basis.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:32 pm
What if people don’t really need to go to work? What if they choose not to expose themselves or family? It should be a choice.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:35 pm
Three days of work per week would be safer.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:36 pm
What if someone is infected at the grocery or retail store just before they return to work?
Nyx Nythology
May 30, 2020 at 4:26 am
They will know one day early— if showing symptoms by then. This is a respiratory virus. It spreads mainly by air droplets. Sneezing, coughing, talking from your diaphragm. These are it’s favorite things. If you don’t have the symptoms, you are probably not spreading it to your co-workers, family, and friends— as you would while hacking your lungs out. A little pre-meditated caution can help take the “murder” out of covid19!
To my understanding— If someone shows it before the three day grace period, hopefully they will care enough to go home early or be released early— for the good of the people they know, instead of relying on empathy for strangers.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:39 pm
Not every household is able to self-quarantine – especially those with one bathroom.
No Name
May 30, 2020 at 1:30 pm
Thats how most people do in most of the world lol
Angry Birdie
May 31, 2020 at 6:00 am
*europe has entered the chat*
F. E.
May 31, 2020 at 9:17 am
I think that the lecturer meant that people with sympthons would skip their 4 working days and stay at home, regardless if they live alone or not. The aim is to globally minimize the infection probability, not individually.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:41 pm
People may break quarantine for various reasons.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:46 pm
As a minimalist, I’ve always worked part-time as a Registered Nurse.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 2:57 pm
Working consecutive days helps to retain continuity. However, with each return to work, extra time may need to be spent to determine where to pick up where someone else left off. That communication from one shift to the next shift is very essential. Being available, while at home, is equally important for the continuity of the person that is at work.
Republic Of Texas
May 29, 2020 at 3:04 pm
If there is another season of house arrest or partial house arrest in going to see if Sweden is taking immigrants
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 3:05 pm
Glad to hear that so many countries are already incorporating this idea. The research and analysis will be of great interest.
Rohan Mehra
May 29, 2020 at 4:46 pm
This is a stupid idea… Stupid
Mehta Rohan
May 29, 2020 at 4:46 pm
This is a stupid idea… Stupid
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 4:59 pm
Three days at work and 14 days quarantine.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:03 pm
With the number of increasing deaths, there may be fewer people to infect. Same effect.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:14 pm
If people could just stay at home, there would be even less exposure. Many jobs can be zoomed, skyped or emailed.
With technology, you can live anywhere, such as deep in a forest. With technology, you can have everything delivered to your home via UPS, etc.
A lot depends upon your willingness to change or adapt to a different lifestyle. If it’s your choice, it’s just a little easier.
Tresouix
May 30, 2020 at 2:04 am
i once built a humankind-ese house over the comment section through a proxy server on youtube! you should do a ted talk
Lily Rose
June 4, 2020 at 12:46 pm
For people like you 5G is the best option. Please if requested then allow the government to install a 5G tower on your roof. That way you will know the harm of 5G.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:17 pm
Manufacturing may be replaced by automation. Check out Elon Musk and Andrew Yang’s Universal Basic Income (UBI). Another great solution!
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:19 pm
Brainstorming can be accomplished with zoom. Office visits are not really needed.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:23 pm
Goods can be delivered by self-driving vehicles and robotics. Elon Musk.
ITouchTheSky 8GladysWorld8
May 29, 2020 at 5:30 pm
Thank you so much for talking of this argument. God bless the world. Lovely watching and listening to both of you here on the top of Italian mountain. I am cooking pasta penne with spinach at this moment, while watching this very interesting video.
Diane R
May 29, 2020 at 5:34 pm
Less obesity would lessen hopsitalizations. Hopefully, people will begin to take better care of their health. In America, more than 70% of the population is overweight. Fourty million smoke. These are vulnerable patients. Obesity and smoking are curable simply with cease and desist.
Mark Maugle
May 29, 2020 at 7:44 pm
4, 10 hour days every other week sounds interesting. But that cuts your personal income by 1/2. How do your pay your Rent or Mortgage? Do people who live in rural areas really need this at all if the “R” value is less than one?
I invented Google
May 29, 2020 at 10:49 pm
If you are an American you are totally screwed
ola ahmad
May 29, 2020 at 11:44 pm
My vedio about Covid-19 VS Depression
quAdxify
May 30, 2020 at 2:19 am
I may be wrong but there is no real evidence suggesting hygiene and masks + travel restrictions with rigorous quarantine and testing would not be enough to keep the growth rate of the virus below 1. China seems to be doing well, Taiwan too, South Korea as well, even Sweden without any formal lockdown didn’t fare horribly bad. If people are too dumb to use proper hygiene and masks (given those are available), it is just natural selection doing its thing.
quAdxify
May 30, 2020 at 2:27 am
The US does not need to worry about a second wave I guess.
Missouri SkyWatcher
May 30, 2020 at 9:22 am
The exit strategy is to turn off your television and live your life. We all know now that the numbers were wildly overestimated to induce fear and panic for political reasons as well as to push the vaccine agenda. Event 201 and Lock-Step pg.18 will tell you all you need to know about their new world order plans. Bill gates and Fauci have a vested interest in giving every man, women, and child their poisonous and dangerous vaccines. If they get their way you won’t be able to do anything without an immunity passport. And once the contact tracing app is baked into the phones your every move will be monitored. We all know the tests are faulty and that the death certificates are being changed to raise the number of covid19 deaths.
Clorox
May 30, 2020 at 12:06 pm
COVID-19 = China-Originated-Virus-In-December-2019 🇨🇳🦠🦇
Jenny Coffey
May 30, 2020 at 5:19 pm
TelAviv drivedata down our throats, puts kids back to school because we might believe the herd immunity lie and stifle others by demanding decisions are data based. We needed money in homeschool more than everywhere.
Stacia A
May 30, 2020 at 7:32 pm
Tell me I’m not the only one who just found out that the clapping sound at the start is actually a recording…… lol
juncel1999
May 31, 2020 at 6:29 am
How do i reach out to Uri Alon for a Webinar invitation in the Philippines?
Guillaume Fabre
June 1, 2020 at 11:07 am
How about wearing masks for a start?
Diego Garcia
June 2, 2020 at 4:34 pm
I would love that the government of my country pay attention at any proposal that people of the world is trying to figure it out to return to normal. Argentina, in fact, Buenos Aires and sorroundigs, with less than 1000 deaths, is in Q since March 20th….
How to 4 Small Tube
June 2, 2020 at 10:51 pm
It seems to be a good concept, but how will it work towards getting the economy back to normal?
Azaniah Suhartini
June 3, 2020 at 11:05 am
It is seemingly sad for me because here in my country we cannot sooner replace manual labors into automatic machine which means we STILL need humans to do on the spot job. Operational working space where they needs someone’s accuracy to finish a work surely cannot be replaced directly. So im 100% agree with his strategy to do four days work and 10days lockdown and self quarantine. In case some people accidentally infected right before they go to work a day after, this is the company’s effort to maximize their health protocol so they can avoid second infection before those infected people start working again and send them home to quarantine theirselves and allow who passed or un-infected to do their regular works. Slowly but sure we can regrow our economy and no more layoffs or homeless people because of this pandemic 🙏🏻
The Cave All Strayed Up
June 4, 2020 at 1:19 pm
The economics of the virus. This is what happens when a morally corrupt society is aided and abetted. We could have a much more fully comprehensible by population inclusion in prosperity with morals because slavery would not exist and our environments would be safe. I mentioned that the lower pollution allowed me to walk more last week. Yesterday, I had to use my professional 3M aspirator like the one on my home page picture. The pollution was close to 50 versus the 2? when I posted last week. As soon as I took the aspirator off to smell the air, my back began to tense up so badly I didn’t feel like walking. I put the aspirator back on and voila, tension gone. I don’t know if it’s just the physics of pollution displacing oxygen or the nerve effect of the pollution on breathing, probably both. Also, on the walk, just like in my neighborhood, I was sexually harassed by four men. One spit at me. A marked increase in aggression with the pollution. Funny, I don’t torture anything or anybody when the pollution increases but the morons of the world that get paid for their contribution are permitted this heinous luxury whenever. I’ve had the police here four time this summer and I don’t know if I’ll bother calling them again. Officer McMichael said “So what” in response ton my neighbor’s illegal fire burning when I called about mental harassment, theft, vandalism, and trespassing and refused to speak with the probable culprit for prevention’s sake. That’s the kind of attitude that brought us the virus and police brutality in the long run. Everybody is just going to keep their mouths shut until there is a horrible irreversible disaster we cannot recover from without creating worse slave nations like communism for instance, the only other choice.
반백아미
June 4, 2020 at 4:53 pm
I’m afraid of an uncertain future. I don’t know if i can survive.
Nora Panagiotidou
June 4, 2020 at 6:34 pm
Nobody wants to reopen the economy anymore