Countries whose culture promotes obedience to rules have been more effective in dealing with Covid-19 than countries whose culture encourages ignoring rules.

It doesn't have to be that way, however. Australians and New Zealanders are no more obedient by culture than Americans or British. But they had leaders who faced up to the danger and led the country to make Covid-19 precautions effective — including, when necessary, by enforcing the rules. The tightening was temporary because it was tight enough to beat the disease down.

Britain and the US have had leaders that chose not to lead their countries in the right direction. With a good leader, or at least a sincere leader, they could have come through much better.

The practice of adjusting rules based on variations in the infection rate, which is common in the US and the UK, is fundamentally harmful. People will support the effort to stamp out the disease if they understand that the goal is to eliminate it and we must all work hard for that. (They also need support so that they are not rendered destitute in the process.) A lackadaisical national reaction will inspire people to game it.