At this point @nytimes is just making stuff up. Where is the data that lockdowns have slowed the spread of #COVID? Comparing early v late v no lockdown states provides no evidence. Looking at Japan and Sweden, which have no lockdowns, provides no evidence...

And meanwhile Italy - which locked down early and hard - has been suffering for a month - multiple cycles of viral transmission. It is possible voluntary social distancing has a positive effect. Right now a fair look at the evidence suggests that lockdowns are at best useless...

And at worst do more harm than good by driving intrafamilial and nosocomial transmission and preventing health authorities from focusing on and protecting the elderly, who are really at risk.