The problem is that lockdown easing in the current scheme doesn't really achieve that, either. I suppose it's a step in the "right" direction, but as long as there's a need for social distancing then economic activity will remain relatively suppressed. I'd assume that, in DD's preferred model, even eased lockdown is still too much if it has an economic impact. So, I disagree: it *does* come down to a numbers game. Is the "save the economy" approach based on some idea of a tolerable death rate, and, if so, what is it? Where is the line drawn?
The second point really is that if the goal is to get to business as usual, why? Isn't one of the key lessons of the last few months that the current economic vulnerable is far too reliant on continued activity? Wouldn't it be better to use this lockdown as a motivation to change our approach, rather than as just an irritating pause to be swiftly forgotten?