That's my question. The article actually says a lot the measures work, the results for the most restrictive measures is "mixed". I suspect that is as you say:

That's my question. The article actually says a lot the measures work, the results for the most restrictive measures is "mixed". I suspect that is as you say: some places actually follow those rules and they work, other places ignore them and they (unsurprisingly) fail. Edit, case in point, teachers have had enough of constant U-turns and cancelled and reactivated and re cancelled initiatives: https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-poll-suggests-most-teachers-have-no-confidence-in-the-government-after-education-u-turns-12183844 https://news.sky.com/story/covid-19-poll-suggests-most-teach...