A well-balanced contribution from Ozzy, above.
I have stood (unsuccessfully) at two general elections. If my party had won, or entered coalition, it is possible I may have found myself faced with some of these decisions. I am not a doctor, or epidemiologist, or mathematician. I would have had to consider the advice I was given, questioned it as effectively as possible, but then put my neck on the line, making decisions that would certainly mean life or death for lots of people.
I would have known that the scientists were themselves working at the cutting edge of knowledge, as this virus is new. Much of the information they gave me would have been contentious. I would have been presented with passionately-argued alternatives, often completely contradictory.
For this reason, I am more sympathetic with the politicians than most. All the armchair critics have the right to express their opinion, but it is the politicians who make these choices, and all we can hope is that they do so with the best of intentions.