The point of social distancing is to flatten the curve so that we don't overwhelm the health care system. So to the extent that hospitals are significantly under capacity, the policy is being improperly implemented and the epidemic is being needlessly prolonged.

Flattening the curve does not reduce the number of infections. It is a policy solely designed to reduce EXCESS mortality that would result from an inability to provide critical care for those who need it. Somehow, people now believe that we're trying to prevent people from getting sick, and that we can somehow prevent anyone from dying. I understand that people are scared. I'm scared. But we ARE going to go through this. There is no way out of this.