by Mimi Marshall
In these strange times, it can be easy to get caught up in our own circumstances. Constantly bombarded with news about our country and the regulations our own Prime Minister has put in place, we may forget that there are people living in almost 200 different countries, each with entirely different lives that were altered by their governments differently to the way that ours were. Detailed below are three unique responses to the COVID-19 crisis around the world.
1. South Korea ( 10,806 cases | 9,333 recovered | 255 deaths ) - as of May 6th
On March 3rd, the daily average of new coronavirus cases in South Korea was 851. On April 3rd, it was 86. And on May 3rd, it was 13. How did they manage to flatten the curve so quickly?
One of the key elements of South Korea’s successful COVID-19 response is how fast the government was able to distribute tests. Officials opened over 600 testing centers, which featured fast food-inspired drive-through services to reduce contact between doctors and patients, and, by early March, had tested over 145,000 people.
The South Korean government also quickly made use of high-tech surveillance to trace any potential transmissions of the virus, allowing them to identify hundreds of people that could have been in contact with any infected person. Immediately, these people were asked to self-isolate, which was crucial in flattening South Korea’s curve.
The self-isolation regulations in South Korea are also much more strict than they are in, say, the United States. While people in Florida were still sun-tanning and swimming at public beaches, many citizens of South Korea understood that adhering to strict guidelines was essential for ensuring that the spread of COVID-19 remains controlled in their country, and in the world.
2. Fiji ( 18 cases | 14 recovered | 0 deaths ) - as of May 6th
Fiji, a small island nation in Oceania, saw its first confirmed coronavirus case on March 19th. However, their regulations began much earlier than this. In late February, all passengers of cruise ships entering Fiji were required to undergo testing, and travel regulations were already much more strict and cautious than many countries with higher populations and larger risks of outbreaks.
A day after its first case was confirmed, the Fijian government closed all schools and non-essential businesses. To put the swiftness of this response into perspective: Canada had already had over 4,000 confirmed cases before BC closed its schools. Though Fiji has a relatively small population (895,476 as of 2020), the speed at which the government responded to the crisis remains remarkable!
In early April, the Fijian Prime Minister, Voreqe Bainimarama announced a nation-wide curfew and lockdown to slow the spread of the virus. As of May 6th, the country of Fiji has confirmed 18 cases, with no new cases since April 20th.
3. Cuba ( 1,703 cases | 1,001 recovered | 69 deaths ) - as of May 6th
Cuba is well known for its excellent healthcare policies. Citizens have access to free universal healthcare, and the nation has the highest doctor: population ratio in the entire world. In terms of medical supplies and education, Cuba was well equipped to fight the pandemic.
In early January, Cuba was way ahead of much of the world, already preparing a detailed “prevention and control” plan to fight the virus. The government educated the population and warned workers in potentially endangered industries (such as tourism) of a possible economic crisis, and were prepared with necessary medical services and equipment. In early March, when the first case was confirmed, the nation was already well-prepared medically for the crisis.
Unfortunately, Cuba has been facing an ongoing housing shortage which has made physical distancing extremely difficult for much of its population. Also, Cuba has also been dealing with stricter U.S. sanctions which provide additional financial burdens for the Cuban government. While Cuba’s medical advantages have helped the country keep its cases relatively low, many citizens will struggle to recover from the economic effects of the pandemic.
We, at the Sentinel Sun, believe that it’s important to be aware of what is going on in other countries around the world. After all, we all share the same planet! Make sure to stay educated on the status and situations of other countries, especially during this crazy, scary time.
Works Cited
Bryce, Jonathan. “COVID-19: 24-Hour Curfew Threat.” Fiji Sun, 5 Apr. 2020, fijisun.com.fj/2020/04/05/covid-19-24-hour-curfew-threat/.
Chanel, Sheldon. “'It's Catastrophic': Fiji's Colossal Tourism Sector Devastated by Coronavirus.” The Guardian, Guardian News and Media, 15 Apr. 2020, www.theguardian.com/world/2020/apr/16/its-catastrophic-fijis-colossal-tourism-sector-devastated-by-coronavirus.
“Fiji Population (LIVE).” Worldometer, 6 May 2020, www.worldometers.info/world-population/fiji-population/.
Morris, Emily, and Ilan Kelman. “Coronavirus Response: Why Cuba Is Such an Interesting Case.” The Conversation, 26 Apr. 2020, theconversation.com/coronavirus-response-why-cuba-is-such-an-interesting-case-135749.
Thompson, Derek. “What's Behind South Korea's COVID-19 Exceptionalism?” The Atlantic, Atlantic Media Company, 6 May 2020, www.theatlantic.com/ideas/archive/2020/05/whats-south-koreas-secret/611215/.
“ Canada.” Worldometer, 6 May 2020, www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/canada/.
“ Cuba.” Worldometer, 6 May 2020, www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/cuba/.
“ Fiji.” Worldometer, 6 May 2020, www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/fiji/.
“ South Korea.” Worldometer, 6 May 2020, www.worldometers.info/coronavirus/country/south-korea/.
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