I see the the Pedant ( defining quality - cf ¬ ) can't let go.
I will be more explicit:
~// This is a noVel experiment in isolating people to curtail a disease and it has never been attempted //// ~
What is NEW ( = novel) and UNIQUE is that rules are being applied to an ENTIRE country ( many countries in fact ) in our times, with our societal structures/infrastructures/communication systems/transport systems/etc and this is the first time this has ever been done.
We are not living in the era of Defoe with The Great Plague.
"I am not sure if I understand people who say these figures are useless because they are 21 d old
they arent useless = it shows that 21 d ago things looked worse ....."
What figures ?? Is the Pedant using that old ruse of general condemnation with an *unspecific* accusation ?
Well let's get 'specific* about some peoples doubts: there seems little consistency in how different countries 'present' their statistics, and confusion in how the UK compiles its statistics, and a question of actual competency. ( we'll ignore that 'nasty!' talk of Truth, haste and 'The Fog of War )
"but you know I am just a retired .... scientist "
Well let's not let details interfere Pedant, what were the FOUR
"example from history where isolation was used".
Keep technocratically strong Peter.
¬
https://www.lexico.com/definition/pedant