The U.S. had some states with very strict measures and some with little to none. The U.S. is a pretty huge country and in a way, is like 50 separate countries in one.
Comparing the U.S. and Australia in terms of Covid measures and outcomes is an apples/oranges comparison. The U.S. is about seven times the size of Australia with a population over 12 times larger than Australia. The U.S. has over 8 times the number of people per square kilometer than Australia. I would think those factors would have a large part in the disparity between the two countries in terms of Covid deaths per capital, maybe more so than any government measures. The U.S. Covid deaths count was distorted by attributing any death of a person with Covid as a Covid death. If someone died of a heart attack but also had Covid, it was accounted as a Covid death. Or if someone died in a car crash but had Covid, it was a Covid death.
When it comes down to it, shit has to get done regardless of the dangers in the world. When humans were hunter/gatherers, if all people stayed inside the safety of their dwellings to avoid getting eaten by predators, killed by other factions, or whatever other dangers there were, they would have starved to death.
The deaths caused by Covid measures in the U.S. will never be accurately accounted and there were deaths. Mental illness proliferated and there were no adequate resources for treatment. Drug addiction and alcoholism increased. Physical fitness declined as recreational facilities were closed, even outdoor facilities and people were encouraged to stay in their homes. Walking and hiking trails were closed. People were arrested for kayaking alone. Preventative medical screenings were out on hold as doctors offices were shutdown .
I won't even get into the economic impacts or the setbacks in development and education of children.
It was all fucking ridiculous and shameful.
