[Goose]

It does not have to be inevitable that everyone gets infected.  We could actually try wiping it out like New Zealand has practically done.

Actually OF, I think New Zealand demonstrates the futility of expecting to wipe out the virus. There are too many places in the world where the virus is/has been in a state of community spread. Many of those places do not have the resources or will to contain the virus. New Zealand has basically closed off contact with the outside world. However, even under those extremely restrictive conditions the virus got through. New Zealand was fortunate the people who brought it in actually got sick. It may not always be that way. Then, you have an outbreak. Ditto China.

Taiwan has a mandatory two week quarantine and extremely effective tracking and tracing. Even they realize that the virus isn't going away, so containment will continue to be necessary. Containment is possible without full shutdown. It takes a committed governmental effort at the local and state level, as well as the Federal authorities controlling the borders "appropriately". That may cut the number of cases to a very small number, but there will always be some that get through. In short, it is too late to eliminate this virus. We either come up with an effective program to contain it or suffer the economic and social costs of not doing so. Unfortunately, it appears we in the US are going with the latter.

[Goose]

It does not have to be inevitable that everyone gets infected.  We could actually try wiping it out like New Zealand has practically done.

Actually OF, I think New Zealand demonstrates the futility of expecting to wipe out the virus. There are too many places in the world where the virus is/has been in a state of community spread. Many of those places do not have the resources or will to contain the virus. New Zealand has basically closed off contact with the outside world. However, even under those extremely restrictive conditions the virus got through. New Zealand was fortunate the people who brought it in actually got sick. It may not always be that way. Then, you have an outbreak. Ditto China.

Taiwan has a mandatory two week quarantine and extremely effective tracking and tracing. Even they realize that the virus isn't going away, so containment will continue to be necessary. Containment is possible without full shutdown. It takes a committed governmental effort at the local and state level, as well as the Federal authorities controlling the borders "appropriately". That may cut the number of cases to a very small number, but there will always be some that get through. In short, it is too late to eliminate this virus. We either come up with an effective program to contain it or suffer the economic and social costs of not doing so. Unfortunately, it appears we in the US are going with the latter.