I'd say the right move depends on the outcome of the many Chloroquine trials now underway. If it's an effective treatment then there's really no reason to keep everyone (as opposed to only elderly and vulnerable people) locked down. "But the economy isn't worth peoples' lives" - human life isn't priceless and the lockdowns themselves take a severe toll, much of it falling on young healthy workers rather than those who are close to the end of life anyway. Tens of millions rely on the shuttered industries to feed, clothe and shelter their families.
I agree with Trump that the economy shouldn't be shut down all the way through August, but we probably need longer than 15 days to flatten the curve of the virus. We probably need another 2-4 weeks beyond that based off the curves I've seen from other countries. Hopefully he doesn't jump the gun. He's surrounded himself with a lot of smart people. He needs to listen to them.
Unfortunately he might be correct because you cannot have a half hearted lockdown. You either do what China/Singapore did or not at all. The way we implemented our lockdown and how Americans obey the lockdown make it unworkable and ended up with the worst of both world: Economy tanks and virus spreads like wild fire. All we have to do is look at Italy, now Spain and see how our style of lockdown works. Look at the beach scenes of California and Florida and ask yourself if the lockdown will prevent spread.
Those who said Trump is an idiot underestimated him. Any treatment will provide him the necessary cover to get everyone back to work and that is why he is touting chloroquine.
1. He is an idiot, period. 2. He is overestimating the time when he can lift the quarantine. India has just locked down for 3 weeks. 3. Just because he is lying about going back to work next week that doesn't mean it will happen.
Well, I think we're going to get to find out. I do not see the US on the whole doing what is necessary to suppress this virus and 'flatten the curve'. So...we will get to see what happens when that is not done. We'll see if our resident very stable genius is right or not. Trump is an idiot, so I wouldn't count on him getting it right. But we'll see.