On 11 March 2020, the World Health Organisation declared COVID-19 a pandemic. Since the virus emerged in Wuhan at the end of 2019, it has spread globally, with a WHO Risk Assessment set at ‘Very High’ on the Global Level. WHO’s latest Situation Report on COVID-19 can be accessed here. The spread of COVID-19 highlighted two factors: the eagerness to take action by governments and the strength of each country’s health care system. Surprisingly, the pandemic also exposed how easily Gen Z was able to adapt to self-imposed isolation harnessing the power of connecting digitally, as well as the boomers resistance to practising the necessary preventive measure in order to break the chain of transmission. Countries over the world have reacted differently to the ongoing pandemic, from what went wrong in Italy to South Korea’s comprehensive protective measures, this is what you need to know. What South Korea did right On the 23rd of March, South Korea reported the lowest number of new coronavirus cases since infection rates peaked four weeks ago. The country is testing 20,000 thousand per day, which is the highest people per capita globally. South Korea developed its approach following the 2015 outbreak of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (Mers) which killed 36 people in the country. The 2015 outbreak caused the country to reassess its approach to containing infectious diseases, which included setting up a special department by the Centres for Disease Control. A hospital in South Korea developed SAFETY – which stands for “Safe Assessment and Fast Evaluation Technical booths of Yangji hospital”. The booths work by allowing a person to enter one side of the glass-walled booth and use a handset to communicate with a hospital worker standing on the other side of the glass. Following a consultation, the staff member can collect a sample by using the rubber gloves attached to the glass. The booth is disinfected after the individual exits. The Yangji hospital stated the booths allow a sample to be collected in seven minutes, enabling them to collect ten times the samples they would without the special booths. What happened in Italy Italy became the epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic when it surpassed China as the country with the most COVID-19 related deaths. Total deaths in China stand at 3267 with 6 new deaths while those for Italy stand at 4827 with 795 new deaths. The first confirmed coronavirus case was reported on February 20 in Italy, but the patient did not have a history of contact with China, suggesting he probably contracted the virus from a fellow European. In just three days, Italy had 123 confirmed cases – which led the government to seal off 11 towns with check points. But the governments response came too late and was too moderate considering the severity of the situation. Schools were closed on the 4th of March, and officials asked the public to practise social distancing but the message was a little lost when the mayor of Milan publicised a “Milan doesn’t stop” campaign. As the situation worsened, the north of the country was locked down on March 8 and one day after the lockdown was extended to the rest of the country. Leading from the front: Germany’s Angela Merkel 21463 confirmed cases have been reported in Germany, with local transmission of COVID-19. In an address, Chancellor Angela Merkel said “our own behaviour” was the “most effective way” of slowing the rate of infection. Germany is imposing strict social distancing measures including a ban on public gathering of more than two people. Hair, beauty and massage studios have been closed; restaurants are only allowed to remain open for takeaways; and the police is in charge of monitoring and punishing those who infringe on the new rules which have been put into place for the next two weeks. Mrs Merkel’s office said she would quarantine herself after it was revealed that a doctor who vaccinated her on Friday against pneumococcus, a pneumonia-causing bacteria, had tested positive for coronavirus. The chancellor, 65, will be tested regularly in the next few days and continue to work from home. “The great aim is to gain time in the fight against the virus,” said Mrs Merkel. Philippines struggles to cope Experts around the world have criticised the Philippines response to COVID-19. “Truly, it’s a mockery of community quarantine concept,” said Dr Anthony Leachon, a former president of the Philippine College of Physicians. Hours after President Rodrigo Duterte announced a “lockdown” of the entire Metro Manila area to curb the spread of COVID-19, his cabinet secretaries put so many exemptions for commuters and business men that many believed the “lockdown” wouldn’t achieve its goal. “Our frontline health workers and medical personnel are risking their safety to respond to the needs of the public, all we ask is for you to do your part,” Health Secretary Duque III said. Philippines is also facing a shortage of personal protective equipment and testing kits. The Philippine Chamber of Food Manufacturers Inc. also warned of potential gaps in the food supply chain. The Philippines has also acknowledged it doesn’t have enough tests to pinpoint the exact number of Covid-19 cases in the country. How is Singapore doing everything right? Singapore developed a strong infrastructure for dealing with pandemics following the SARS outbreak 17 years ago. The country has the capability to conduct 2,000 tests daily, with 140 contact tracers which are actively working with the police to outline the case history of each patient. “During peacetime, we plan for epidemics like this,” Lalitha Kurupatham, the deputy director of the communicable diseases division in Singapore, told the New York Times. As reports of a new virus in China emerged, Singapore banned travellers from mainland China towards the end of January 2020. Moreover, people coming into the country had to have their temperatures checked, along with those visiting restaurants and going to school. Testing in Singapore remains free.
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