> I have to say that such a response appears to be somewhat tone-deaf.
You can self quarantine in a city as well as in a rural area. I think we shouldn't blame urban life for what was botched policy. Taiwan, Singapore, Beijing, they all did just fine.
Short of a zombie apocalypse I'd always rather be in a city and in close proximity to quality care (in particular relevant for the elederly) than somewhere else. After all, other diseases haven't stopped existing. If you are in a rural remote area, if you have a heart attack you're pretty much done for. Not to mention even getting good dental care can be difficult.
Also shifting the mindset in the US is a decades long endeavour, fascination with pastoral or bucolic lifestyles is deeply ingrained.
You can self quarantine in a city as well as in a rural area. I think we shouldn't blame urban life for what was botched policy. Taiwan, Singapore, Beijing, they all did just fine.
Short of a zombie apocalypse I'd always rather be in a city and in close proximity to quality care (in particular relevant for the elederly) than somewhere else. After all, other diseases haven't stopped existing. If you are in a rural remote area, if you have a heart attack you're pretty much done for. Not to mention even getting good dental care can be difficult.
Also shifting the mindset in the US is a decades long endeavour, fascination with pastoral or bucolic lifestyles is deeply ingrained.