> The notion that we're all going to go out and start going to restaurants again amidst stories of people dying in hospital hallways for lack of medical equipment is ridiculous.

It's not as ridiculous as you think. Most people would just go about their lives and risk the disease because most people will be okay. If people weren't forced/threatened to quarantine, they wouldn't. If the nba season wasn't canceled, people would still attend the games. Same with baseball games, comedy clubs, concerts, etc.

The question is the cost-benefit analysis. What is lost and what is gained via the lockdown/shutdown and whether it is worth it.