The best solution is to do what we've done in all of history. Let the virus run its coarse with the protections we have used in the past and have seen work. The medical community needs to tell the truth that masks don't help much. If you're sick, you stay home. If you are a business that is worried about people gathering then hire people, perhaps in full virus gear, to enforce distancing rules you impose and hire other people to constantly clean behind everything anyone can touch. If that's too expensive and you are still worred about your business causing the spread of the virus then close until you are not worried anymore. Certainly old age homes should enact protections.
..."protections like we've used in the past". Do you think masks and social distancing were invented a few months ago?
...but you want to support a government that can shut down any activity for any virus at any time. And if you don't think that's true, then give us your principles upon which you would limit a government's edicts in this context. Can you see how people like me are merely being reasonable when we get up in arms about you supporting that?
You are exaggerating my position ("a government that can shut down any activity for any virus at any time"), and you know it. I don't have a solid quantitative answer as to under exactly what conditions the government should be able to impose limitations. Despite other epidemics, this remains an unusual situation. Can you suggest such guidelines? Seriously- do you think there are situations in which governments can undertake such steps, and if so- what circumstances.