Originally Posted by
ReturningVector
It is for the same reason Italy went in lockdown when the virus was already wreaking havoc: To spread the number of sick people over a longer time.
That way you will have a less intense ‘peak’ that puts a burden on the medical infrastructure.
It is not so stupid as you might think, it is the way to go according to experts. You will not stop the virus, most people will get sick, but spreading it over a longer time helps in relieving the pressure on your hospitals and clinics somewhat.
This is explained via the link below
The idea is that reducing the peak load on the health services they will not break down.