Why Social Distancing and Sheltering in Place make sense

Few young people are going to die from coronavirus. But that's assuming that they can get medical care.

Hence anything that spreads out the onset of cases, even if it eventually doesn't reduce the total number of cases, will help because it will ensure that hospitals and care facilities aren't overwhelmed.

Now clearly we can't shut down the country forever but it's clear that there would be an economic impact of not taking drastic measures as well.

For example if suddenly people were dying who could have been saved due to limited resources people would probably start panicking bigly.

Look at what a fear of shortages of toilet paper has caused; mass hoarding that created an artificial shortage of toilet paper.

Imagine what the response would be if people thought that they could die if they didn't somehow ensure their own access to treatment.

We can't do this forever but as with many things the right answer is in the mean.  We take serious steps to constrain the spread of the virus but we don't destroy the economy to do so.

Perhaps we can let young people, ie under 65, with no preconditions get back to work while providing financial support for the elderly who can't go back to work.

There is a solution that balances all the factors and minimizes the overall death toll.  But we have to look for it and be open to it.