Govts just seem to resort to restrictive measures everyone hates. I agree. It gets more and more authoritarian as new global issues pop up.
Just like post 911 flight changes, certain covid restrictions will never go away. Masks on planes might be permanent more for e.g.
I don't see a reason we really need 11 bn people ( projected max size estimate)
We certainly would have less deaths from pandemics and associated costs.