Max @ CSBD Posted March 21, 2020 Share Posted March 21, 2020 The number of coronavirus cases in the West is skyrocketing, and countries have announced drastic measures, including school closures and lockdowns. The outbreak hit many countries in Asia several weeks earlier - and some have been praised for containing the number of infections. For example, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan all kept case numbers relatively low - despite their proximity to mainland China. What did they do differently - and are there any lessons for other countries? Lesson one: Take it seriously - and act quickly Health experts agree on the same measures for containing the outbreak - test widely, isolate those infected, and encourage social distancing. Such measures are being adopted to varying degrees in the West now - but a key difference is that many countries didn't act as quickly. "The UK and US lost an opportunity," says Tikki Pangestu, a former director of research policy at the World Health Organization (WHO). "They had two months from what happened in China, yet there was this perception that 'China is very far away and nothing's going to happen'." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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