I mean "inexpensive" both in dollars and in overall social cost. Closing the schools might actually save money short-term, but society will be paying for those

I mean "inexpensive" both in dollars and in overall social cost. Closing the schools might actually save money short-term, but society will be paying for those children's interrupted education for a long time. In any case, I agree that the virus will be with us for many months to come. I'm optimistic that with strict mask use and loose other interventions (anything involving large crowds closed, but most other facilities open, mostly prudent individual behavior) we can control the virus, as Japan seems to have. The political progress towards that has been pretty rough, but maybe it's beginning to converge.