Sorry, I’m saying this from a US perspective, where we had 1 million or so covid deaths. We also had lockdowns, but it was state dependent.

The point is: if the lockdown didn’t happen, would the outcome be better? Remember, it’s not like Covid would go away. It’s not like we get teleported to an alternate dimension in which everything is okay.

Lockdown was a reaction.

I think people would like for Covid to have never happened, and they think that if lockdown didn’t happen then it would be just like before Covid. No, it wouldn’t be, it would still be a new world. That much was inevitable.

In the U.S. we hardly had what you’d call “lockdowns”, more like government suggestions that you shouldn’t expose yourself or your loved ones to a potentially deadly virus. Restaurant goers, teachers, commuters, and others wanted to avoid sickness and death, so many organically avoided activities that would leave them exposed.

That the path we took was the only path is where I draw issue. It was a choice to lockdown, I think it was a bad one. Covid killed even with lockdowns & vaccines. Birdflu is apparently ravaging Australian bird populations, just because it hasn't jumped species yet doesn't mean it won't... maybe we should lockdown just in case right?

I'm not in a position of power to make the calls as if something like this was to happen again, I'd only caution we look the prior experience to be a guide for what comes instead of pretending outbreaks haven't happened before.