It seems to be USAmericans in particular who can't just stand a little farther, or worse, want to cough on people or wave around guns in Walmart.
Ah, you mean those who say they'd do anything for the country except wear a mask if they don't want to. Or, do you mean the patriots who think that kidnapping governors will liberate their states from oppression? All because of coronavirus restrictions, or just to use it as an excuse?
Like you said, alternative to what? ...wearing a mask and at least trying to keep one's distance? NYS has been opening back up, and cases have been increasing. That was predictable. Restaurants can seat 25% capacity. Movies aren't open. No idea when they will, but I'd call the reopening gradual. The alternative would be a sudden reopening.
There's going to be a rise in fall in the number of cases for a while. How many and how long will depend on what people do or don't do. Because there are people who are ideologically bound to be against any treatment or mitigation method not promoted by the president, there will be opponents to wearing masks and social distancing who refuse to comply.
Consider that the US hasn't had 10 million cases yet. Remember that argument about "herd immunity"? Remember the suggestion that it only too 40% of the population for it to work with coronavirus (even though traditional textbooks say it takes 80-90% to achieve? Well, 40% of 330 million people is quite a bit more than 10 million, no? Do the math yourself, then figure out long it will take for that to happen if it's a solution.