I think many of the south eastern Asian countries have handled this pandemic far better than we have in the west. Some countries, such as Vietnam and S. Korea, Taiwan also have very low death rates, may have been on constant alert over the past few years given their proximity to the main source of similar viruses, China, and therefore far better prepared than we were. The Japanese, are very disciplined and like many of their south east Asian counterparts are not given to flouting government directives. I believe I read around the time of nuclear power plant disaster, looting which could have occurred, didn't, because there is a strong sense of honour and doing the right thing.
I agree that we should be looking to nations who have a greater level of success in handling the pandemic and trying to emulate them, but I still think there is a great difference in the way the general public behave in such places and the way we behave here in the west, in that they are prepared to co-operate with their respective governments and do what has to be done for the greater good.