You can see the rate of increase slowing down in the graphs for each country, linked from this page:
https://www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/#countries
From memory, South Korea most clearly demonstrates the decrease in rates from applying restrictions; the curve has a definite corner as they managed to restrict the spread. South Korea’s restrictions were and are much better targeted than the UK’s.
Note the ratio between cases and deaths for different countries, and compare against the tests per million population. Notably, Germany has detected far more of its cases relative to its death total, and has done loads of tests.
I can’t think of any way of slowing down the spread without restricting the economy, but the UK has done quite badly.