We've done something.
We've been doing something. As you note it really hasn't worked. Even places in the US with strict enforcement for months on end (it has been a long two weeks to flatten the curve, hasn't it?) have been seeing the same kind of increases.
For that matter, interventions tried around the world have largely failed to prevent spread ... with the possible exception of the most oppressive and authoritarian regimes.
Well, maybe. We don't know what "doing nothing" would have looked like in the US.
It seems likely that wearing masks reduces your risk of catching/passing the virus a little bit, but over time the likelihood that it will fail becomes almost certain. If we're saying "just wear a mask until the vaccine" ... well, we're practically there.
Which would be great. Vaccine, put a bullet in this thing, move on. Oh, and fight the anti-vaxxers for decades.
If you're suggesting we should try something more severe, then I'm curious what your proposed strategy is.
I don't have a proposed strategy. I'm not nearly well enough read into current research about how and where covid transmissions are happening and what can be done to prevent that. That's probably a starting point for suggesting mitigation, followed by looking at how much economic damage they would incur.
Arresting people who dare to even post negative things about lockdowns like in Australia? Something more along the China "weld them in their apartments" model? A genuine, full and complete lockdown?
The virus doesn't care what people post on the internet, so no, I don't think that would be effective.
Communist China has (maybe?) done a good job of containing the virus with their "what human rights?" policies. I don't think anyone wants these sort of draconian measures in the US.
Given the risk profile we have actually seen (i.e. pretty deadly to elderly and at risk, pretty not-deadly to young and healthy), I don't think there is anything outside a medical breakthrough that can be reasonably enacted while maintaining a semblance of "America" that will do anything to halt the virus. The best thing I can think of would be to provide incentive for at-risk people to stay home and protected and let everyone else make their own decisions.
And maybe that's the best course - keep on doing what we're doing, provide support for people that are at-risk, and just makes sure everyone else has the information they need for an informed choice. Maybe that's the cost of freedom.