The crisis brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic is far-reaching and affects all aspects of society. What started as a deadly epidemic from China has spread to other countries and has now reached almost all continents on this planet. Right now, the epicenter of the pandemic is in Europe, with Italy and Spain taking the brunt at approximately 70,000 and 50,000 cases, respectively. As such, international borders have been closed and travel restrictions have been put in place. Other countries are responding to the outbreak by initiating mass testing and thorough contact tracing. Here’s how countries are fighting COVID-19 and how effective they are in dealing with it.
LATEST COVID-19 UPDATES
How countries have been dealing with COVID-19
Australia
On March 24, Australia banned all overseas travel. A new set of restrictions were also put in place by the country’s government. Included in these restrictions are ban to social gatherings and a halt to non-essential services. In order to facilitate easy dissemination of information during the COVID-19 pandemic, the government is seeking out developers for a new information app. The app will be a welcome addition to the text message campaign that the government piloted on March 25.
China
China’s handling of the COVID-19 pandemic within its borders was strict. This pandemic severely disrupted its own economy. As the epicenter, the country was the first to initiate a nationwide lockdown. Almost 20,000 medical workers were sent to Hubei — the origin of the pandemic — and authorities meticulously took temperature checks for every citizen. However, the government’s suppression of information during the early days of the pandemic was widely criticized for making things worse. Still, the government stepped up its efforts — now, there almost no new domestic cases within the recent days, and restrictions have been eased in Hubei since March 25. With no new cases to deal with, the country has now turned its attention to helping other countries like Italy.
Cuba
Cuba is a country known for sending medical front liners in times of health crisis. As such, the country has sent its doctors to various parts of the world to assist in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic. One of the countries where Cuba sent its doctors is Italy, a country that recently surpassed China in terms of the total number of COVID-19 deaths. The country can afford to send its doctors due to its great healthcare system — as a matter of fact, it is one of the few countries in the world with a universal healthcare system. With its healthcare system well and functioning, it has even decided to take in the British cruise ship MS Braemer and allowed it to dock on its shores.
France
France is one of the countries that bore the brunt of the COVID-19 pandemic. The government has enhanced its measures in light of the rising COVID-19 cases in the country. Permission slips are now required for all citizens who have to go outside of their own homes. Curfews are also placed in other parts of France. Sports activities have been limited as well, and open-air markets are closed down for the moment. To support the country’s start-up businesses, the government has already announced a support plan in cooperation with Bpifrance.
Germany
Like every other European country, Germany is also seeing an increase in COVID-19 cases. The latest puts the country’s tally at approximately 30,000+ active cases. Its leader, chancellor Angela Merkel, is on self-quarantine after the doctor who vaccinated her for pneumonia tests positive for coronavirus. While the whole country is not on lockdown yet, the government has already banned the gathering of three or more people in non-essential shops. To combat the pandemic’s effect on Germany’s economy, the government has already launched a 150 billion EUR stimulus package, as well as a 500 billion EUR bailout fund for critical industries.
Iran
Iran was one of the hardest-hit countries in Asia and the Middle East. Its government is also buckling under pressure to contain the pandemic. Weekly Friday prayers and the Parliament have been suspended as the country battles the pandemic. A few government and health officials are infected with the coronavirus too. However, the government has yet to initiate a nationwide lockdown. Making matters worse for the battered country is its refusal to accept any aid — instead, it insists on lifting the sanctions put in place by the US over a strife that unfolded in January.
Italy
Italy is currently the epicenter of the virus in the world, with more cases being actively reported every day. The nation is already on lockdown as its hospitals desperately remedy the grim situation. Only supermarkets and pharmacies are allowed to open during the total lockdown. All travels to and from the country are banned, with restricted movements for its citizens inside the country in place too.
Japan
Japan’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic was also criticized. Most of the criticisms were directed towards its prime minister, Shinzo Abe — the criticisms were directed towards his proper handling of the cases, as well as not taking enough precautionary measures. The country has no lockdown in place, and some tourist attractions and shops remain open as of March 24. However, the country is suffering a blow to its economy as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics finally got canceled due to pressure from various countries.
New Zealand
The country of New Zealand has been on lockdown since March 25. This comes after the country raised its alert level to three, then four, in a tense week following a rise in cases. With the lockdown in place, only shops providing essential services remain open to most of the country’s citizens. A national emergency has also been declared by the prime minister of New Zealand, Jacinda Ardern.
Singapore
In a bid to conduct a successful rapid contact tracing for its citizens, the government has released TraceTogether as an open-source app. The country uses the app for its contact tracing. Other measures that the island nation took to fight the pandemic include temperature checks to any incoming visitors, as well as those entering public establishments. Still, with rising cases marring the country, the government took drastic steps such as banning all visitors — a measure rarely heard of.
South Korea
South Korea is one of the hardest-hit countries by the pandemic. As of March 25, there are more than 9,000 reported cases. The pandemic spread rapidly in the country due to local transmission from a quasi-Christian sect gathering. At the peak of the pandemic’s spread, the country reported more than 500 new cases. Since then, the country was able to lower the new cases and now has one of the lowest casualty rates in the world. Medical experts pinpoint South Korea’s success to quick intervention, rapid mass testing, and thorough contact tracing, surveillance, and isolation. Testing is done within 10 minutes, and there’s a drive-through testing system as well.
Spain
Spain has already extended its lockdown following a surge in COVID-19 cases in the country. With fatality rates overtaking China’s, the country is on the same trajectory as Italy. As such, the country has already asked NATO for urgent medical supplies. Hotels have already been closed, and conference centers were made into makeshift hospitals.
Taiwan
Like Singapore, Taiwan is stepping up its measures against the COVID-19 pandemic by using digital technology. Travelers who had been from countries with COVID-19 cases are required to quarantine themselves and install a tracking app that warns them if they leave their quarantine areas. As one of the hardest-hit countries during the SARS epidemic of 2003, the country has learned a lot about managing pandemics. The measures that the country had taken up include banning surgical mask exports and activating its own Central Epidemic Command Center.
The Philippines
The whole island of Luzon is on lockdown as the cases in the Philippines hit approximately 600 people. The spike in cases comes as its citizens call for free mass testing and increased testing capabilities. However, the calls for mass testing is marred by lack of testing kits and capabilities. To manage the situation, the government passed a bill that gave the president of the country, Rodrigo Duterte, greater powers.
Vietnam
Due to the rising cases in the country, the government of Vietnam has decided to ground all international flights. Still, the cases are comparably low as compared to other countries in Southeast Asia. As such, most businesses are still open as of March 24. In a remarkable feat, Vietnamese scientists were able to develop a rapid-testing method for the coronavirus.
United Kingdom
Like Japan, the UK came under fire for its slow response to the COVID-19 pandemic. Before a lockdown took into effect recently, the government of the country was criticized for being passive in its precautionary measures. There were concerns that the government’s passiveness resulted from its decision to pursue a “herd immunity” strategy plan — one quickly dismissed by the government itself. As of now, the whole of the UK is on a national emergency.
United States of America
The president of the US, Donald Trump, has not yet declared a nationwide lockdown. However, schools and establishments have already been closed as a precautionary measure. The government is also urging everyone to practice social distancing. Due to the economic disruption the pandemic caused, the government has already rolled a stimulus package. However, analysts are also concerned with Trump’s plan to reopen establishments by Easter.
Follow for more updates
The COVID-19 pandemic continues to threaten more countries as cases continue to rise. Countries with confirmed cases are doing their part to fight the pandemic, but some are faring better than others. In the end, however, continued cooperation of each nation is crucial in ensuring success against a threat that has affected all of society.
Follow us on social media to get the latest travel-related COVID-19 articles.
History
Get Trip101 in your inbox
Unsubscribe in one click. See our Privacy Policy for more information on how we use your data
Create an account to