It’s simple math that reducing the number of people in contact with each other would reduce the number of people that got infected.
no, that’s the nuclear option, not a surgical strike, much less the only option, and based on an insufficiently precise perception of the problem.
the mechanism of spread can be crudely described as spitting into each others’ mouths, not standing nearby, touching, or breathing in the same room. with the problem sufficiently, if crudely, framed, it should be easier to imagine other ways of preventing spread besides locking everyone in their abodes. physical distancing by itself, for instance, is probably sufficient for most folks. for “essential” workers, you might add a mask.
Without ordering places closed there's too much incentive for businesses to fudge and force their employees to come to work. Don't forget there were runs and shortages of masks so service industry employees wouldn't have complete reliable access to simple masks.
> the mechanism of spread can be crudely described as spitting into each others’ mouths
Somewhat true but coughing etc makes loads of the tiny particles that can carry the virus and they can linger and spread.
There's a lot that could have been done better but it requires a level of coordination and action the US isn't super great at, both in general and right now in particular..
We all understand that in a crisis sometimes leaders have to take decisive action based on incomplete data. That's fine. Just don't dress it up with some fake veneer of "science".
