Interview | Description | Timestamps | Show Notes

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Location: Skype
Date: Friday, 13th March
Project: BHB Network
Role: Director

COVID-19 continues to spread around the world. 169,717 people are now infected, and the death toll stands at 6,518. The virus is highly contagious, making containment incredibly tricky. As the seriousness of the situation escalates, countries around the world are implementing strict controls on movement and contact.

The COVID-19 coronavirus originated in China, where the number of cases has now risen to over 80,000. As the virus has taken hold, the Chinese Communist Party has implemented draconian measures. Despite criticism, the aggressive use of quarantine appears to have been effective in reducing the spread of infections. The number of reported daily new cases in China has dropped from almost 2,000 per day a few weeks ago, to less than 20 at the time of writing.

Italy now has the highest number of cases outside of China, with over 25,000 testing positive. A nationwide lockdown is in effect, with police and soldiers enforcing the quarantine conditions, and on the 15th of March, the EU recorded the highest number of deaths in a single day so far.

Giacomo Zucco is a Bitcoiner who is currently under lockdown in Italy. In this interview, he explains what life is like on lockdown, the measures that have been put in place, how he thinks the governments around the world have dealt with this pandemic and why he believes centralised planning is poorly suited for dealing with the crisis.

00:05:36: Introductions
00:07:25: Italy in lockdown
00:15:12: Fatality and mortality rate in Italy
00:17:35: Limitations of UK testing
00:19:10: Changing hospital admission policy
00:21:52: Thoughts on government reactions
00:26:33: Government reputation and virus narrative
00:32:52: Concerns around virus death rate
00:38:04: Stories of the virus
00:45:56: Destroying the economy to save lives
00:49:53: Governments in lose-lose situations
00:53:44: Does this situation require central planning?
01:02:22: Boris Johnson’s response in the UK
01:03:58: Why central planning is flawed
01:08:48: Argument for carrying on as normal
01:16:02: Rationalising the spread
01:19:58: Libertarian and statist views on healthcare
01:27:19: Final comments

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• Connect with Giacomo:

  • On Twitter @giacomozucco

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• Mentioned in the interview: 

  • Coronavirus: A visual guide to the pandemic

  • Coronavirus disease 2019

  • China spent the crucial first days of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak arresting people who posted about

  • China Silences Critics Over Coronavirus Outbreak

  • Severe acute respiratory syndrome

  • Middle East respiratory syndrome

  • Avian influenza

  • China's reaction to the coronavirus violates human rights | Frances Eve

  • NYC's Economy Could be Ravaged by Coronavirus Outbreak

  • America’s Economy Begins to Shut Down as Pandemic Measures Take Hold

  • Coronavirus Update (Live): 182,555 Cases and 7,166 Deaths from COVID-19 Virus Outbreak - Worldometer

  • Coronavirus Death Toll and Trends - Worldometer

  • First Covid-19 case happened in November, China government records show - report

  • Italy's 'darkest hour': how coronavirus became a very political problem

  • Li Wenliang: Coronavirus death of Wuhan doctor sparks anger

  • China lockdown: How the administration beat back coronavirus - The

  • China May Be Beating the Coronavirus, at a Painful Cost

  • China is ill, but it goes much deeper than the coronavirus | Ai Weiwei

• Other relevant WBD podcasts:

  • WBD171: Michael Goldstein on Rejecting All Forms of Activism

  • WBD150: Erik Voorhees on Understanding Libertarianism

  • WBD141 - Stephan Livera on Austrian Economics, Libertarianism and Bitcoin

  • WBD127 - Saifedean Ammous on Understanding Bitcoin Economics

  • WBD114: Giacomo Zucco on Why Brexit Is Good for the UK (and Bitcoin)

  • WBD039: The B Foundation and Nouriel Roubini's Testimony to Congress with Giacomo Zucco