Also herd immunity is neither guaranteed nor is it necessarily preferable to lockdown. We don't know how long immunity lasts on average post infection.
>they universally believe that immunity is real and at least moderately long-lasting
I haven't seen a single publication to this effect and there's no way to no for sure until enough time has elapsed to verify. Viral immunity varies widely and though it is in the coronavirus family it is still a novel pathogen.
There's no way to know anything for sure, but it's been experimentally confirmed that animal analogues can't be reinfected and that the antibodies people produce are effective against the virus. Remember that this is an emergency situation; we can't just wait and see, we have to work as fast as possible towards addressing the problem.
We’re living in fear. Either herd immunity works or it doesn’t. If it does, end lockdown, take our lumps, and move forward. If it doesn’t, and lockdown, take our lumps, and move forward. Otherwise we’re living a half life where we slowly die from lack of resources.
Sure, we cant shutdown forever, but I dont understand the rush to sacrifice.
Covid will be with us forever now, and in just a few months we already understand a lot more about it than we did at the start.
The longer we can delay mass infection, the more effective our treatment of the disease will be, and the more likely we will have vaccines.
Lets delay for a while, figure out the best treatment methods, and then let it through.
Also herd immunity is neither guaranteed nor is it necessarily preferable to lockdown. We don't know how long immunity lasts on average post infection.