There is one thing that 99% of people don't understand about social distancing and quarantine.

Musk, with his vulgar way, is simply trying to point out this misunderstanding (That I will explain).

On the graph below, the shaded regions are the number of cases. In the blue curve, there is no quarantine. In the yellow curve, there is social distancing and quarantine. The idea is that, in the yellow scenario, the curve will be flattened and the hospitals will not be overwhelmed. But the same number of people get it regardless.


In both scenarios, the same number of people get COVID-19. In the yellow curve, people get it slower. In the blue curve, people get it faster. People seem to think that the yellow curve means less people get it. With or without quarantine, the same number of people will get it.

Originally, hospitals became overwhelmed with cases so quarantine was set in place to “flatten the curve.” Now, hospitals are no longer overwhelmed — in most places — and flattening the curve ie pointless. Musk is simply saying that, in places where hospitals are not overwhelmed, stay at home orders are ineffective.

Musk has a colorful way of saying things. Instead of explaining his reason, he has a breakdown. He is true that, in many places, quarantine is useless because (as the graph shows) the same number of people will get COVID-19. It’d be nice if he just communicated clearly.

-Griffin Wagner

If you know how Covid-19 is transferred, you won't say this. The rate of infections is the number weapon of the virus