surely carrying on the way we are, running away from 'the virus', is doing far more damage than if we went back to a normal society ?
Yes, more than likely, but that calculation would change if the case figures rose to levels above those seen in the first surge (with knock on effects on hospitalisations and deaths). I personally don't expect the figures to rise that much, but I don't think it's impossible either. I wouldn't want us to be hamstrung by a commitment to avoid a national lockdown, in the unlikely event that having one would be the best course of action.