Our healthcare system is collapsing. It will only get worse. Mitigation—“flattening the curve”—isn’t enough. We must buy time to fight the coronavirus.

Only suppression—immediate and tough social distancing measures in all areas with infections—can prevent millions of deaths and allow medics, scientists, academics and policymakers to learn how to respond.

Some may hesitate to bring down the “hammer” now because they fear the outbreak will resume as soon as we ease social distancing. But South Korea, Singapore and China showed that 3-8 weeks of suppression can get the virus under control. After that, it’ll be an ongoing “dance” to keep the virus from breaking out again until vaccinations arrive. A Hammer-and-Dance strategy is the best way to save lives and minimize economic damage.