In hindsight, even the initial shutdowns probably could have been done more regionally,

with specific areas going into stricter lockdown when infection rates in their area hit certain levels. That might have lessened some of the resentment in areas of the country that didn't see much Covid initially.

But to do that successfully would have required listening to competent experts, governmental leadership and cooperation, constant testing and truthful communications that Donald Trump and his Republican enablers did not want to do.