, Columnist
This Isn’t the Flattened Curve We Were Promised
The dying won’t be over anytime soon.
More to come.
Photographer: Miguel Medina/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
“Flatten the curve” has become the mantra of the global effort to contain the coronavirus pandemic. It’s a powerful and immensely valuable image, helping people understand why their sacrifices are necessary to save lives.
It’s also wrong in a crucial way: The dying won’t be over nearly as soon as it suggests.