“Even if the “half measures” slow down the virus spread by half, they have actually slowed it down by a few days at most...”
The goal now is to flatten the curve as much as possible.
Reducing the peak load on the medical system.
Please note that if you run the numbers, half measures do not prevent a peak period, they merely delay it by a few days.
To actually flatten the curve you need mass quarantines.
Exactly. South Korea kept their numbers within the capacity of their healthcare system and their numbers are now dropping off. Italy has overwhelmed their healthcare system and their numbers are still increasing. Our goal is to be South Korea, not Italy. Not that SK is out of the woods yet, but they are making progress.