@chenda - cL and FrX being in the US health system are talking about the
mitigation strategy (protect the vulnerable, social distancing for the elderly and other vulnerable, home quarantine of infected, reduce peak health demand). The lockdown is part of the
suppression strategy (reduce R0<1, reduce case numbers to low or nonexistent levels, social distancing for everybody, travel bans, stay-at-home orders, special (not home) quarantine of infected and suspected cases, contact tracing, maintain until a vaccine is found).
The suppression strategy was eventually pursued by almost all countries with more (New Zealand) or less (US) success. Mitigation puts the onus on the health care system. Suppression requires the collaboration of multiple institutions (including the public) in the entire or at least most of the country/enclosed area. In the US, suppression is still the chosen strategy in some states (particularly in the North East) but not in others depending on the culture and political situation in the given state. See here
https://covidactnow.org/?s=60387
Here's a short video explaining the difference between mitigation and suppression (first five minutes):
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McuPw52_DNA
The median country started with no strategy (high R0>1, low infection numbers). Then things got out of control (high R0>1, high infection numbers) and it switched to suppression to get it under control (low R0<1, low infection numbers). But this was economically pricey, so it switched back to a mitigation (low R0>~1, rising infection numbers) while keeping the eye of the ball (the infection numbers) and being prepared to lock parts down again (to get R0<1 if infection numbers get too high). The median country is taking a pro-active approach watching that R0 number very carefully essentially letting it guide policy.
PS: Before we restart the old argument/eternal disagreement again, I'm just describing what was done and why it was done. Not what should have been done or what would have been "best" for a given situation.