It won't. This is nonsense of the most obvious kind, because we're already past the stage where the virus is spreading quickly.

In fact the reverse is likely to be true. Lockdown minimises the number with the disease, but that number is not zero.

Which means that if immunity is possible (questionable for a CV, but let's pretend), immunity will spread wider and wider in each lockdown wave - and the health system won't be swamped.

This plays for time, raising the odds that a vaccine or some other treatment will appear.

Successive lockdowns will do exactly what they're supposed to do - spread out the peaks, minimise casualties over time, and minimise health system stress. (Although it will still be very high.)

What they won't do is keep businesses afloat. Mass bankruptcies are going to be a huge problem throughout the entire global economy.

Other countries understand this, and are stepping in with financial measures to help. Presumably the UK doesn't want to do this.

The tell is the fact that the government has plans to quarantine for four months - i.e. place under house arrest - over-70s who are infected. Without access to intensive care - it won't be available if the NHS is swamped - the mortality rate in this demographic is going to be higher than that of any other developed country. It could easily be twice the nominal 15% CFR for this demo in China.

It's hard to avoid the conclusion that the real plan is to cull the old and sick while pretending that's not happening.