This is what China did during the SARS outbreak. Not only were people not allowed to move around in the country, but entire hospitals were quarantined so that people who got SARS would be sent there to die. My father was stuck in China during the entire SARS crisis in a small village and he was forbidden to leave. I called him several times during this period so it was eyeopening.
Yes, the other affected countries also took proactive quarantine measures. And that's the reason why a hundred million people are alive instead of dead today. Seriously: SARS was deadlier than the 1918 flu, which killed several tens of millions. That's the fate that was avoided. Quarantine works.
I believe he means each individual viral infection has a higher probability of resulting in death. The epidemic as a whole was less deadly, but he's arguing that's only because of the quarantine restrictions put in place.
