I never said it was impossible. Quite the opposite: Australia managed it (also, an anglo nation with popularist right wing government, a shitty press etc).

Choosing not to do something is not the same as not being able to do it.

If our "leaders" mastered have the effort for this that we put into the war on drugs or tax cuts for the Uber rich or even farm subsidies, we'd all be in the pub by now.

Edit:

I think issues like this are difficult exactly because we cannot have a compromise solution. A compromise solution (lots of lockdown but not effective lockdown) is worst for everyone.