COVID-19: Top Countries Handling Coronavirus Best and How?

 

It’s been over four months since the Novel Coronavirus hit the globe. This has been spread over 100 countries around the world. It seems some countries were more ready for this pandemic than the others.

Let’s think back and analyze which countries have fought COVID-19 to the best to their potential. What steps have they taken to save themselves from the wide destruction?

Enlisting of top countries handling coronavirus well, with the required explanation for their success:

1] Taiwan

Taiwan, officially known as the Republic of China, is a state in East Asia, located in the middle of the East China Sea and South China sea. Though the island state is only 1307 miles, away from mainland China. Taiwan managed to retaliate pre-pandemic symptoms which ultimately resulted in triumph against the COVID-19 battle.

As of 10th May, Taiwan had only 440 cases out of which only 79 were active cases.

source: worldometers

Factors helped Taiwan to fight COVID-19

1] First mover advantage:

On 23rd Jan, Taiwan became the first country to close its border for china and banning the entry for residents of Wuhan. Furthermore, all passengers traveling from any locations of China were made to fill a health declaration. This way, early isolation resulted in early freedom. 

2] Past experience guide future action:

In 2003, during the SARS outbreak, Taiwan was amongst the worst-hit territories. Learning a lesson from past experience, Taiwan has world-class health insurance that covers 99% population. This helped people to choose health over finances. Taiwan’s health care infrastructure includes the temperature monitors on airports which were installed back in 2003 after SARs to screen the travelers. This helped them to stop infected people on the country border itself.

3] Domestic needs first; export later:

Along with banning travel from infected countries, the government forbade the export of face masks and additional essential tools to make it available for own citizens and making it affordable by capping their prices. Taiwan govt. made it obligatory to wear a face mask, use sanitizer, follow social distancing, and strict actions against people breaking home quarantine in early February.

Current: 

Multiple countries are waiting for the WHO and China to confront the on-going crisis whereas Taiwan has taken charge despite having political conflicts with china and an unrecognized country in United Nation. Taiwan is able to succeed because of its bright moves and lessons from past experiences. After conquering the home battle, Taiwan is now looking forward to being a pillar of support and an inspiration to the global community. Here’s some of the announcement by Taiwan.

Today I announced three major areas where #Taiwan will contribute to the global fight against #COVID19:

1️⃣: Donating 10 million face masks to countries in need.
2️⃣: Increasing production of quinine.
3️⃣: Sharing our use of technology to trace & investigate outbreaks. pic.twitter.com/F5yxyuF0Fc

— 蔡英文 Tsai Ing-wen (@iingwen) April 1, 2020

2] Israel

Israel, a Middle Eastern country world-famous for the divine city “Jerusalem”. It is home to Jews, Christians, and Muslims. Israel with a population of around nine million declared its first positive coronavirus patient on 21st February.

As of 10th May Israel has approx. 16,454 cases including 4,831 active cases.

Israel not only eliminated the spread of COVID-19 but also expeditiously recovered the infected people.

 

source: worldometers

Factors helped Israel to fight COVID-19

1] Israel’s defense and spy agencies:

Forces like Unit 81 and Mossad have made a significant contribution in retaliating the battle against COVID-19. They used their technological expertise to a breakthrough in the fight by producing surplus ventilators, face masks, and virus test kits.

2] Health infrastructure:

One of the winning factors in Israel's battle was its existing digital health structure amid the COVID-19 outbreak. The doctor and defense worked together to deploy anti-terrorism data tracking to identify citizens infected with COVID-19 through its tracking application. Amid COVID-19 Israel is considered as the 1st safest region right now in the world by Deep Knowledge Group analysis.

Current:

COVID-19 condition is getting better in the country from the last two weeks as there is a continuous drop in the number of new cases. As of 4th May, only 35 new cases were reported. According to a global innovation map published by start-up Blink, Israel is ranked 2nd among the 32 most innovative countries during the coronavirus pandemic. Whereas India ranked 26th on this particular map.

Also Read:

Coronavirus Outbreak: Everything You Need To Know.

3] Australia and New Zealand

Both Australia and New Zealand are the sovereign countries located in the south-eastern Pacific Ocean.

As of 10th May, the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in Australia and New Zealand is 6,939 and 1,494 respectively. Australia recorded its first case on 22nd Jan whereas New Zeland recorded its first case almost a month later on the 28th of Feb. Both countries have a month difference in discovering the virus on their respective soil but they have battled together and indeed they are very near to the finishing line as well.

After weeks of constant rise and fall finally, now you can see a constant fall in the number of active cases.

                                                          source: worldometers

Factors helped Australia and New Zealand to fight COVID-19

1] Testing, testing, and testing:

More than 4,44,000 COVID-19 tests have been carried out across Australia. In mid-April, Australia has one of the highest testing rates in the world. Hence, more testing helped out to reach the right person to treat, and quarantine which lessens the risk of community spread. Testing for COVID-19 has been a key factor in Australia’s battle against the Coronavirus. 

2] Strict physical distancing:

The government in Australia promoted lockdowns and social distancing but what made a difference between them and the rest of the other nations is the implementation and cooperation on part of the citizens. Each opening store, floor, and door followed the principle of “1.5 meters apart”, they installed machines for a body temperature check, use of sanitizers, and a maximum 2 individuals in a car are the most preferred. Anyone found breaching the rule charged heavily with the penalties around AU$1600 to AU$2000.

3] Good health infrastructure:

Australia’s and New Zealand’s health system is one of the best in the world. It provides safe and affordable, quality health care for all. According to Deep Knowledge Group research, Australia ranked 4th and New Zealand ranked 6th safest country to escape the coronavirus.

4] South Korea

South Korea, an eastern Asian nation on the southern half of the Korean peninsula, shared its sea border with China, Japan, and the land border with North Korea.

Korea is known worldwide for its fast-evolving technology in automobiles and electronics worldwide. Furthermore, they are known for their cooperation, patience, and warm fellowships.

While the whole world is struggling with the COVID-19 pandemic, South Korea leads the way by being deliberate to everyone.

Seven weeks ago, South Korea and the U.S. had the same number of virus death. Whereas, as of 10th May, there are 10,874 COVID-19 cases in the country whereas the U.S has broken all the graphs shining alone at the pandemic mount peak with approx. 13 lakh cases and death toll over 75000.

                                                      source: worldometers

Factors helped South Korea to fight COVID-19

1] Lesson from SARS 2003 and MERS 2015:

What the Korean government and its citizen did was something very admirable, and all too rare. They suffered during their history, and they learned from it. Taste of failure in the 2002 SARS outbreak, 2009 H1N1 influenza, and 2005 MERS was more than enough for the Korean govt and people to realize the need of taking early measures and changes in legislation back in 2015 and follow it by heart in the future outbreak emergencies which include using CCTV for surveillance. 

2] Testing, testing, testing, and tracing:

During the earlier outbreaks government made several catastrophic mistakes like testing kits were unavailable, face masks were not sufficient and to top that, lack of transparency in delivering information to the general public in order to avoid chaos. But now, the scenario has totally been reversed. During the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic outbreak, South Korea has the highest rate of coronavirus testing in the world that touches 5000 people per million citizens, which is commendable. Another factor that made testing more effective is tracking of all contact before it became a cluster. South Korea consolidated the contact tracing approach with high tech surveillance, made possible by the post-MERS legislation. Each individual can easily track the activities of diseased through websites or through their mobile tracing applications. 

3] Zero tolerance isolation:

South Korea followed the “zero-tolerance isolation” policy in the very beginning to track down the actual positive person. In phase 1 of the coronavirus, patients were divided into several groups.

The diagram will show a better picture of the approach taken by South Korea:

Along with that, international arrivals were also subject to isolation and are required to download an app.

Hence, testing, tracing, and isolating became the three-legged stool in South Korea's success.

5] Germany

Germany is located in the heart of Europe. Today Germany is one of the most liberal countries with a powerful economy and a capable welfare system. The pandemic has hit Germany hard, with more than 1.6 million cases.

As of 10th May, Germany has 1,71,324 cases out of which current active cases are 19,375 only.

 

                                                        source: worldometers

There is no doubt after China, the pandemic hit Europe the hardest. In addition to that, the majority of the population in Europe is old which worsened the outbreaks to take a cruel look on the soil. But the percentage of the fatal case has been remarkably low in Germany compared to its neighbors.

Factors helped Germany to fight COVID-19

1] Testing:

Just like South Korea and any other country, Germany focused on conducting more and more tests. According to John Hopkins University, the country had more than 1,00,000 laboratories, more than any other country except the U.S., Italy, and Spain.

2] Robust public health care system:

One factor that changed the game for Germany is its robust public healthcare system. According to the world health organization, Germany ranks 22nd in providing the best healthcare in the world. All across Germany hospitals have broadened their medical care capacities. Susanne Herold quotes, "We have so much capacity now we are accepting patients from Italy, Spain, and France”. This shows the confidence of the German government on its medical system.

3] Lower average age: 

One of the major explanations that many experts are providing is that the average age of those infected is lower in Germany than in many other countries. As less old people had been hit, the death rate is 0.2%. The average age in Germany is 49, which for France being 63 and in Italy being 62. Germany is considered the second safest region in the world to escape coronavirus according to Deep Knowledge Group.

Hence, the above are some of the countries that set the pace for the other countries in the world and make them believe that discipline and proper planning can control COVID-19. Though the process of making the vaccination is still under process.

Also Read:

Coronavirus Outbreak: Everything You Need To Know.

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