After about three years of the Covid-19 pandemic, policy makers and citizens alike are still struggling to find the best way to deal with the virus. Measures need to be effective, but also socially acceptable. A study conducted at the Max Planck Institute for Human Development examined the effectiveness of early Covid-19 measures such as lockdowns and other non-pharmaceutical interventions. The results can shed light on the right balance of measures for dealing with future pandemics, particularly in the crucial initial phase before vaccines are developed.