As bad as the U.S. covid response ended up being long-term, and even as a general doomer, I do think if this ends up a serious threat of breaching containment that they won't just sit back and let it happen.
A 1-in-2 fatality rate perks up ears far faster than 1-in-100, even the most deluded of capitalists would know how devastating that would be for profits.
Can't see him without thinking of the Cumtown bit