In a large respect, the response of the CDC and other civil officials is based on 1) the patterns of past pandemics and 2) the lack of CLEAR and complete data about the communicability and lethality of this virus. Absent #2, CDC etc. are following the guide book on pandemics, and that means, for example, no large gatherings.
They seem to be aware of, and thus responding to, one specific feature of this virus: that it really, really strikes hard at the elderly. Thus the new regulation in the state of Ohio, announced today, of only one visitor per resident of a nursing home facility at a time.
But some of it seems like just doing enough to say you’ve done enough. Why not no visitors? Why are public schools still open?