I've heard a few epidemiologists hint a vaccine that works as a silver bullet may be years away, and most likely the first ones will provide some protection. Some are also saying there may never be a successful vaccine. Either of these two scenarios would mean after a while the rot would really set into the economy and our standard of living would go down the toilet.

Rather than limping along, wouldn't it be better to have a really hard core period of isolation to burn the virus out of Australia?

First the Govt could stockpile supplies, package them for delivery and raise and army of workers who would be the only ones allowed out to deliver essentials. The streets would be patrolled by the army and anyone caught breaking the lockdown gets taken into custody.

All the old and unwell people could be moved to hotels etc and cared for there.

After 3 weeks, the essential service workers and army go into their quarantine and are replaced by another lot who have been in isolation.

It would be 6 weeks that totally suck balls but better than limping along for possibly years.

Thoughts?