There are lots of metrics available to optimize for or use as guidance. The choice of which metrics to pay attention to is a politcal matter. I don't know that

There are lots of metrics available to optimize for or use as guidance. The choice of which metrics to pay attention to is a politcal matter. I don't know that any state made it a policy to optimize for a reduced death rate directly. They chose hospitalizations in the early days and then I think metrics disappeared, or only the R value was loosely paid attention to. That's my point. If death rate wasn't a chosen metric then it's irrelevant.