A bit long and technical, but the upshot is that informed citizens, listening to experts, did the most to help control the spread of COVID-19.  Lockdowns often came too late and with too many loopholes and exceptions.  Asia may have also had an advantage due to other recent similar epidemics.  In the west this was all totally new.  Hope we do better next time.  From Naked Capitalism.

Why Did Covid-19 Spiral Out of Control?