Amidst the massive disruption to our daily lives, it’s easy to forget why state and local government officials ordered this societal shutdown (and, indirectly, the firing of thousands of Oklahomans). But citizens should not overlook the reason cited as justification for those actions – because the goal set by policymakers has now been achieved, clearing the way for society to reopen.

The point of the shutdown was not to eliminate all COVID-19 infections, which is impossible, but to slow COVID’s spread over a longer time frame. While the number of total infections might be the same, officials worried that having many people infected at the same time, rather than spread out over two months, would overwhelm our health care system, prevent treatment, and thus generate a higher death rate.

But the data now show Oklahoma has flattened the curve and our health care system is prepared.

The University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model has gone from predicting in late March that roughly 5,000 hospitals beds would be needed for COVID-19 patients in Oklahoma at the state peak of the pandemic to predicting just 882 hospital beds are required.

Put simply, the chief goal of the shutdown has been achieved. Hospitals can now handle the outbreak. So why delay the reopening of society, albeit with many safety measures continuing at home and in the workplace?

The virus is not going away anytime soon. A vaccine, if developed, won’t be available for at least a year-and-a-half, and one must recall that vaccines for similar viruses (like the flu) are not effective up to 60% of the time.

Those who suggest society cannot reopen until COVID-19 is eliminated or an effective vaccine is available are essentially saying our state may never reopen.

Today, thousands of Oklahomans are unemployed and facing a bleak financial future not because of the direct impact of COVID-19, but because of government response to COVID-19. To continue depriving working families of economic opportunity after the shutdown has served its purpose is not only unnecessary, but cruel.

To his credit, Gov. Kevin Stitt understands this, and has announced many businesses will soon be able to reopen. Oklahoma needs an exit strategy from the COVID shutdown, and families must be allowed to begin rebuilding their lives.

Jonathan Small serves as president of the Oklahoma Council of Public Affairs (www.ocpathink.org).