The choices are:
A. Shutdown more restrictively and longer than before, to bring R0 to significantly below 1 for long enough to eliminate the virus.
B. Oscillate between shutdown like before (bringing R0 to approximately 1) and reopening (allowing R0 to get significantly higher than 1).
C. Give up and reopen, allowing R0 to get significantly higher than 1 and accepting the effects of the virus on life and health and the fear of virus on the economy.
B is what you are describing, and the most likely scenario, since both A and C will be politically very unpopular.