I'm not sure new state powers would be required. The state already can (and does and should) compel people who are known to be infected to be quarantined, or at least self-isolated. As far as testing, companies can already require employees to be tested as a requirement to work. A lot of companies already do drug testing of employees, something I actually don't agree with in most cases, but it's already a norm. In normal times they likely won't have sufficient incentive to do virus testing though, and so probably wouldn't given the cost.

But during an outbreak, the ability to roll that kind of thing out, especially in workplaces with vulnerable populations (like senior care homes and hospitals) or necessarily close working conditions (like restaurant kitchens or some factories) could certainly be a game-changer. And that just seems entirely reasonable to me. There's a outbreak happening, so in order to enter [place where transmission would likely occur] you have to be tested first. If found to be infected, you must isolate. Otherwise, you'd be knowingly exposing others, which already isn't something considered acceptable.

So to me this simply looks like an effective use of existing powers in this situation. I'm not sure how it would slide down a slippery slope. The government decides to keep doing virus screening? I mean, I doubt they would incur the cost, but if they do, good! Maybe as Paul mentioned, we could significantly knock down cold and flu as well. If people are worried about infringing on the rights of people with viruses to live normally, I would ask what about the rights of others not to be infected by them? That besides the fact that if these measures are effective very few people will be getting sick in the first place.

Ok, simple basic counterargument.

When is the pandemic over? When does the pervasive testing stop? The argument can - and will - be made that "unless we keep testing until the end of the human race, you will all die tomorrow of a horrible virus-ridden death."

I don't particulary mind doing pervasive testing for awhile. I would desperately not want to live in a world where I could not feed my family unless I give into it.

> When is the pandemic over? When does the pervasive testing stop?

When we stop seeing non-trivial numbers of test results. The idea that governments want to spend billions on mandatory virus testing outside every building until the end of the human race out of some Orwellian enjoyment of inconveniencing people is not supported by evidence. Even China isn't doing this. Back in the real world, even the SARS vaccination research programmes, which cost relatively little and inconvenienced nobody, were shut down when SARS stopped circulating and the even keeping a few scientists employed as part of a pandemic task force looking out for the future was a step too far for the US govt.

Fair enough, I accept that premise. Let's revisit in like... 8 months.

You work at a hospital, you're required to get a flu shot. I don't know how long this has been the case, but I can say firsthand over a decade.