Your perspective, i. e. "flatten the curve", is outdated. It's entirely obvious now that R can be pushed below 1.0. The data from Germany, for example, implies

Your perspective, i. e. "flatten the curve", is outdated. It's entirely obvious now that R can be pushed below 1.0. The data from Germany, for example, implies their (medium) level of lockdown came out to about 0.5. China, with harsher measures, did even better. Germany is now trying to feel its way to a best possible compromise of somewhat lesser/better targeted restrictions that still keep R<1.0 and, thus, the virus on track for elimination.