It's not a secret! Many media outlets and government officials have been very explicit about it: shutdowns are the only option for us, it's irresponsible to demand a date when they'll end, and it's very offensive to ask whether they're worth the cost.
I do share your confusion about why the media would say such things, but they are.
I'm not at all confused about why journalists relay information such as that, because generally it is combined with a very reasonable logic about why we're doing that.
Like Dr Fauci said, the virus decides the timetable, not us. Nobody knows when it will be safe to reopen.
Many businesses are simply not safe for people to mingle in. Many people don't want to understand or take the distancing guidelines seriously, if they're even adequate.
As far as whether they're worth the cost, there's plenty of room for speculation about that. I do think that reducing a potential overload on hospitals is a wise plan.
I do share your confusion about why the media would say such things, but they are.