Until last week, US officials rejected the idea that the country could follow a blockade of many cities like China.

But in the past 10 days, the number of infections in the US soared to more than 4,700, more than 90 died. 49 of 50 states recorded cases. State governors and mayors of the city put in place a series of measures to restrict people from traveling. However, this is a move imposed by local governments without any synchronization and is done on a voluntary basis.

New York Mayor Bill de Blasio announced that the city's public school system with 1.1 million students will be closed by April 20. Bars and restaurants are also closed, but home delivery is allowed.

Although these measures disrupt people's daily lives, they are still "inferior to those in Wuhan, where full blockade is compulsory", Samuel Brannen, from the Center for Strategic Studies and International in Washington, said. "But if the number of nCoV cases soars at one or several locations, they can take more measures."

"We have seen the Governor of New York deploying the National Guard to provide logistical support at quarantine points. Other states can also act in the same way that China mobilizes its sales force. military".

Andrew Cuomo, governor of New York state, the worst-hit state with more than 950 cases and 9 deaths as of March 16, each day taking additional measures, including establishing a "containment zone". translation "around the synagogue in New Rochelle, identified as translation cluster.

Last week, Cuomo ordered a ban of gathering more than 500 people, closing the Broadway theater, concert hall and sporting events. On March 16, he tightened his restrictions, banning the gathering of more than 50 people, closing all restaurants and bars. Previously, the states of New Jersey and Connecticut had similar moves.

Just a week ago, Cuomo himself was hesitant to consider studying under China's blockade. "Nobody wants to blockade because doing so will greatly affect the lives of the people. But we also consider health as a priority. There is a need to balance between the two issues," Cuomo said on March 12.

On the same day, Washington State Governor Jay Inslee said that the state was doing everything in its power to avoid "doing what China has done". Washington State bans the gathering of more than 250 people and calls for pathological people over the age of 60 to attend gatherings of any size.

"We understand that it cannot be 100% effective. We trust people who are well aware, voluntarily comply with because they are aware that they can have consequences if they do not do so," Inslee said.

On the evening of March 16, London Breed, the mayor of San Francisco in California, asked about 6.7 million city residents and nearby counties to stay home, except to go out for essential needs.

In a press conference on March 16, when asked about the possibility of nationwide blockade, Trump replied: "We are not national blockade but we can consider certain hot spots."

The drastic blockade policy seems to have worked for China, where the first case of nCoV was found in December 2019. After a few weeks of covering up information and delaying the epidemic, Beijing imposed control with Hubei province of 50 million people, including the epidemic center of Wuhan city of 11 million.

Other major cities like Beijing and Shanghai also closely monitor residents, only allowing them to go out when they need to go to hospitals or buy supplies.

In a recent week, China recorded only a few dozen new cases every day. Quarantine measures are gradually removed, many businesses have returned to operation. Blockade is considered a key factor to help control the epidemic.

However, this "steel discipline" measure has been criticized by Western scholars as "too harsh and inhumane". "The social norms may change and threaten individual freedoms. These measures can provoke xenophobia and divide the community while the power of the state is overexposed", Wendy Parmet, director of the Center for Health Policy and Law at Northeastern University in Massachusetts, said.

However, the number of infections in the US is increasing by hundreds every day. A report by Deutsche Bank Research estimates the US will record about 301,000 positive cases until early June, when warmer weather can make the epidemic spread slowly.

Jon Harrison, a macroeconomic strategist at TS Lombard in the UK, assessed that concerns over Chinese measures could not overshadow the fact that they had succeeded in dealing with Covid-19. "China's approach is the model that other countries need to follow," Harrison said.

Meanwhile, some people suggest that the United States can follow another country like South Korea. Kanti Bajpai, from the National University of Singapore, points out that South Korea has effectively curbed the epidemic by "early intervention and requiring the public to wear masks without the need for a stern" Chinese retreat ". ".

But Brannen believes that the United States missed that opportunity. Factors that help South Korea contain the epidemic are the health system ready to cope with the crisis, quick testing and good people's awareness. "We haven't done that," Brannen said.

America has faced many crises. After 9/11 attacks, authorities at all levels quickly responded. But this time, in the face of a medical crisis, Washington itself was "holding back" the reaction, Cuomo said.

"Other countries handle on a national basis. The United States does not. State and local governments do not have the ability or resources to do what is needed," Cuomo wrote in an editorial published on March 16. on NYTimes.

For some people, the voluntary approach is not working. But many analysts emphasize that "steel discipline" measures go against the values of a free society.

"Repressive circumvention for many people is a too harsh measure, affecting even those who do not pose a risk to the public," said Lawrence Gostin, from Georgetown University. "Even in a public health emergency, it's hard to imagine the court accepting such measures that affect such freedom."

Brannen acknowledges that even in a public health crisis, attention must be paid to balancing travel restrictions and not violating basic human rights. "The United States has never had such a move. Politically, it will be difficult to prove the need for a mandatory blockade," Brannen said. "If done, many people will be shocked."

He pointed out that the US did not blockade New York even after the 9/11 terrorist attacks. "But we are at a time of 'boiling water'. Covid-19 is the biggest threat to humanity," Brannen said. "This is a human health problem. It should be put above all."