Epidemics are geometric, with an increase ever 12 days based on the R0 = 2 value.
Geometric means you have the increasing series, 1, 2, 4, 8, 16, 32, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024, 2048, 4096, 8192, etc.
So time is always of the essence.
Anyone suggesting we give an epidemic more time, by "flattening the curve", should be lined up and shot, because not only is an epidemic going to get worse by increased spread when you "flatten the curve", but the circles of contact also widen to the point spread becomes impossible to stop, from the geographical spread.