Could not agree with much of your sentiment expressed here. An important consideration is whether we allow this virus to control all life and function until it MAY disappear. Unless we find that vaccines can offer long term immunity similar to those developed for some other important diseases (polio, measles, for example). Then the original goal of 'flattening the curve' is about the best we can hope for. In these modern times, we actually cannot even compare transmission rates, isolation effect, etc to the past. Modern travel has made most of those comparisons moot. Back in 1918 the oceans helped isolate entire continents (air travel being almost non existent). Even travel here in the US from one population center to another was often just too expensive or difficult for many. In today's US, we are going to see some failures of all social distancing and mask mandates. Add to that the fact that so many people either just do not know how to make proper use of masking and sterile procedures, or they do not want to go through the bother and simply slide a mask on, touch it frequently and not sanitize often enough. As a surgeon I can attest that the kind of protection needed to be effective is onerous and suspect most of the population simply will not do it properly.
In summary, this virus will be around for a very long time (forever?) and we have to come up with far better methods to deal with it and still have a functioning life. For now, although i am hopeful, I still see much of what is being done as banging our collective heads against a wall. Your comment about the 'experts' rings quite true. One of the most intelligent teachers in medicine that I ever had once advised me to remember that only 75% of what we do is the science of medicine. 20% is the art of medicine. And 5% is just pure luck!!
