That statement is in the context of “War on X”, and it is a quote from a movie where the “war” is a total war of mutually-assured destruction.
Coronaviruses are definitely not in that category.
If/when we have another, more damaging pandemic, I expect the lesson about how powerful a tool social distancing is to sink in more widely (we are somewhat accidentally having a mild flu season so far; just changing attitudes about what is appropriate when symptomatic would be a benefit, you don't need to do big lockdowns to benefit).