Preliminary German Study Shows a COVID-19 Infection Fatality Rate of About 0.4 Percent

Agreed. But I think all world governments are acutely aware of this balance and are trying to thread that line with the best information we have available (which is admittedly incomplete). But it will be too late to act if we wait for more complete data because this thing moves so fast. So the best course of action is to buy time with things that we know works (public health measures) while we learn more about this disease, treatment options and the impacts of the social measures we are implementing.

It requires governments to be up to date with real data (not just the optimistic data) and continually adjust and adapt strategies to that data and communicate the ever changing strategy and its purpose clearly to its populace. The 18 month timelines are usually not about how long complete lockdowns will take place but how long this constant “dance” of trying to control this virus will continue as things gradually go back to “normal” with a vaccine. But like the Asian countries in the decade after SARS, normal will actually be slightly different to before and we will be more ready for the next pandemic.