There is nothing to be gained by comparing one pandemic with another. I too remember the Hong Kong flu epidemic of the late 1960s, also the Asian flu of in 1958.
But those were flu epidemics and were not as severe nor as lethal as COVID. There were already proven drug therapies to deal with the symptoms and while hospitals were stretched, they were not overwhelmed.
COVID is an entirely different virus, it is more severe and more lethal than many of the flu pandemics and we now live in a very different world where people are always on the move, both within the country and overseas, so diseases can be spread much more quickly than before.
When the lockdown was first implemented, it was to stop the hospitals being driven to breakdown by being overwhelmed by serious and fatal cases. by reducing the numbers getting the disease, it also gave medical researchers time to develop treatments and test drugs that could be used. The second wave is now with us, far fewer are ending up in hospital and still fewer dying because effective therapies have been developed.
Wearing a mask is such a trivial thing and this fuss about them is just a storm in a tea cup. 95% plus of the population have no problems using them, you can just keep one in a pocket or handbag and pull it out when needed. Those that cannot wear them should shield and not go into places where they are required.
That is one thing. However we look to our government to take control in situations like this, and after acceptable early weeks confusion with the sudden onset of a serious disease, we expect that after this they will develop a coherent and consistent strategy that can respond to the vagaries of the disease and provide the country with a clear path that is being followed and with consistent and forecastable responses. We expect them to realise in advance that if you shut all pubs at 10.00pm. A whole lot of people will spill out of them into the streets at that time, making social distancing impossible.
Likewise if you announce on Wednesday that the 10.00 curfew will come in on Friday, then Thursday night will be party night. Foreseeing that is really not rocket science.
The current government, regardless of its political persuasion, are out of their depth and still disorganised They are like little boys with pop guns running around wildly shouting 'bang, bang you are dead!' and running into trees and tripping up in puddles. When the government is in such dissaray they lose the respect of those they are meant to govern and cannot be surprised if more and more people ignore everything they say.
