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The Good, The Bad, and The Covid: How countries respond to pandemics

Posted on by amendoza-garcia

The rise of Sars-Cov-20 cases across the world has certainly usurped the natural order of society. But moreso, it has revealed how certain countries are more prepared to deal with sudden challenges than others. Countries such as New Zealand seem to have handled the virus spread almost perfectly, whereas countries such as the US and Brazil sit atop the winner’s  podium of virus infection rates. But what separates these countries aside from the disparity in cases? Why did New Zealand do so well, while Brazil and a global superpower like the US let it get out of hand?

 

Brazil has a mortality rate of 4.6%, and 50 000+ cases. President Bolsonaro had publicly shamed people for wearing facemasks and taking the pandemic seriously. Many of his supporters (the most fanatical, who remained after evidence of corruption was outed) follow this idea of refusing to wear masks. Aside from a portion of the population being on the defensive when it comes to wearing masks, hospitals are quickly reaching max capacity. Emergency hospitals are either not being taken advantage of, or the funds are disappearing as they are not built in the first place. Combined with incredibly bad living conditions among the poor of Brazil, Covid has effectively waltzed in through the front door and begun spreading like wildfire. Despite the infection rate slowing, deaths are high, and no one seems prepared.

 

Not unlike Brazil, many US citizens have an issue with the concept of wearing a mask. While governors and states attempt to impose mask laws, there is harsh and quick pushback from many. In Ohio, for instance, this resulted in the governor delaying a mask law until it was too late. Ohio’s cases soared, as did their deaths.Some individual companies also did not require them, for fear of turning away customers. And figures of authority, such as the CDC director, Surgeon General, and even Dr. Fauci, have at one point or another believed masks to be ineffective and said as such. According to Monica Gandhi (infectious-disease specialist at UCSF), the biggest mistake in the approach to the pandemic was the lax use of masks.

 

The question remains of how to enforce this. Even now, with laws in place, people still refuse to wear masks, putting their own interests before that of the general public. Enter New Zealand. The government began preparing for the pandemic’s arrival early on. Hospitals and Border Patrol were on the move, anticipating an influx of people and the need to slow the arrival of Covid. Complete and enforced lockdown was established a month after the first case, with quarantine enforced for 7 weeks after that. This swift and strict control of the population ended the pandemic in May, when the last citizen with Covid-19 found and isolated. Despite some pushback and the inevitable frustration of the people, the response has saved New Zealand from a destructive spread.

 

In conclusion, we see how a good response is separated from a bad one. Regardless of where, there will always be pushback by the citizens when rules are imposed on them, even for their safety. The important factor is that the government step up as the authority and enact safety procedures regardless of what the people believe is best for them.

 

Works Cited

Griff Witte, Ariana Eunjung Cha. “At the Heart of Dismal U.S. Coronavirus Response, a Fraught Relationship with Masks.” The Washington Post, WP Company, 28 July 2020, www.washingtonpost.com/national/at-the-heart-of-dismal-us-coronavirus-response-a-fraught-relationship-with-masks/2020/07/28/f47eccd0-cde4-11ea-bc6a-6841b28d9093_story.html.

“How Did New Zealand Control COVID-19?” ContagionLive, www.contagionlive.com/news/how-did-new-zealand-control-covid19.

Rapoza, Kenneth. “Brazil’s Coronavirus Response Has Been An Embarrassment.” Forbes, Forbes Magazine, 29 June 2020, www.forbes.com/sites/kenrapoza/2020/06/23/bolsonaro-brazils-coronavirus-response-has-been-an-embarrassment/#15b4321f226a.

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  1. I agree with Mendoza on his view that a good response makes a difference on fighting the Covid-19. Comparing the US and Brazil with New Zealand is a good way to show both extremes on the good and the bad. In comparing these countries one can see how the levels of corruption, politics, and money make the difference on the good and the bad.

    The blog made me realize that the two main factors that contribute to a well-managed pandemic is transparency and organization. New Zealand was acknowledged for their excellent management since the beginning of the pandemic since the reacted with strong controls and strict biosecurity measures since day one. Compared to Brazil, whose president took covid-19 lightly putting the economy before health.

    After reading this blog it makes me think that the WHO should have the power to sanction irresponsible and corrupt countries where peoples lives are being jeopardized because of bad government and many are dying.

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