I thought this would end up being a political statement - "some people", Govs of Dem states only, media ignoring, the boobs in Mich and Pa, etc.
You are incorrect that there was not a playbook. It's been in place for fifteen years. Numerous posters have linked it with federal appropriations for executive branches including the Defense Dept and states to develop plans and actions for a pandemic.
When you say that people "got it wrong two months ago", you are saying that we should all have kept sites where the virus could spead more easily, infected more people, increased our death totals, overwhelmed more hospitals, and led to a worse shutdown as everyone sheltered in place in fear of spreading it to themselves and their families. "Less harm than good"?
You are correct that there has been a worsening of "mental health, suicide, depression, substance abuse, physical abuse". Are you really saying that we should not followed mitigation advice to keep those conditions under control?
If you wish to deny the science behind mitigation measures and the preparation for a pandemic and believe it is political, take a Rep Gov like DeWine in Ohio, who issued stay-at-home orders on March 22.
Ohio Gov. DeWine is latest Republican to say wearing a mask isn't about politics
(May 25)
Gov. Mike DeWine takes stand against 'disrespectful' protesters
'Demonstrate against me, that's certainly fair game' (May4)
I'm sure Ohio with all this problems and especially with the opioid additions is suffering as well as economically.
This is about the science. Most of us are ready to move back carefully and responsibly into a new normal. There's a Political Thread though to discuss the politics.