Brazil still has a lower confirmed case fatality rate of 4.27%, US 4.84% compare that with UK 13.97%, Italy 14.45%, France 18.28%, Belgium 15.86%. This is from the Real Clear Politics website. Japan also, did not shutdown its economy but, has only 971 deaths. Lots of variables there. Masks have a higher effect reducing transmission and infections. South Korea also, has much lower and death rates too and most of its citizens wear masks.
https://www.realclearpolitics.com/coronavirus/
However in France, Belgium, and Italy the cases and deaths are declining.
In Brazil and U.S. the cases and deaths are rising.
Europe generally is on the backside of wave 1; the U.S. and Brazil are in the front-side of wave 1.
Japan had declared a state of emergency and everyone stayed as home until they got COVID-19 under control. Japan used social pressure and conformity to make everyone align -- in a strong-armed manner. They instituted proper testing & contact tracing to get COVID under control in a mere 1.5 months. If anyone thinks that Japan was not "locked-down" since they did not call it a lockdown better go take a look at their media about the last few months. They ended the state of emergency on May 26th.
New Zealand, Japan, and South Korea responded quickly to lock everything down and instituted full testing & contact tracing. This is why all three countries are open today and enduring a minimal economic impact compared to other countries.