To be fair, there was SOME modest mitigation of flu in 2017-18, and, of course, a vaccine which was rather off target, but did SOME good nonetheless. Around here, some school districts closed briefly, and I observed sanitizer in short supply.
One wonders how much a vigorous PSA campaign of simple measures but no business shutdowns would have helped. I’ll bet that death toll could have been reduced 25% or more.
Even before that in about 2008. Schools closed due to the regular flu and there was hand sanitizer in every classroom. Sadly, that was the same time the boys were breaking the soap containers and making messes with it in their restrooms so the dumb school board took soap out of the restrooms for half the year. Ick.