Restrictions include no right to gather in groups (i.e.. to protest, except if govt wants it, like with Black Lives Matter), restrictions on travel, and many more things.
There is also increased surveillance, we have to use masks some places, and we are required to wash our hands with rather toxic fluids (just look at the warnings on the bottle)
Also, the whole thing has created a lot of fear in general, which also gives the leaders control. And rules/advice has changed so much back and forth that most people just give up...
on making sense of it all, and just follow the rules. Which makes them into easily controllable sheep. This effect will also last for a long time even if restrictions are lifted.