I don't know how people didn't see what was coming and prepare, that it is going to be long term.
Right from the beginning, there were countless articles all over the internet, discussing the findings of sophisticated computer modellings and the uncanny accuracy of said algorithms.
It was clearly found by these, that most probably it will stay with us long term, at least a couple of years and be seasonal after. This is exactly what's happening.
"The writing on the wall"