Protecting the most vulnerable most and “a graduated system of open/closed approaches based on the number of known (and maybe estimated) cases in the last 2-3 weeks” are not mutually exclusive things.
Funny. Back in mid-April such a proposal was discussed (and panned by many) on this very board. Regional criteria for not just known cases but a variety of criteria to all have continued downward trajectory for 14 days, adequate proven hospital capacity, and testing capacity, before passing through the next set of gates, while keeping the more vulnerable more protected until later stages had been entered.
Governors though made their own plans up and mostly they were “gates, we don’t need no stinkin’ gates.”