This archive report was first published on 30 June 2020.
Learning to Live with a Deadly Pandemic ¶
As the world grapples with the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, governments are adjusting their strategies to find targeted ways to stop outbreaks before they become third or fourth waves. This shift away from nationwide lockdowns is a recognition that the coronavirus is here to stay.
China is testing restaurant workers and delivery drivers block by block, while South Korea advises people to carry two types of masks for differing risky social situations. Germany requires communities to crack down when the number of infections hits certain thresholds, and Britain will target local outbreaks in a strategy that Prime Minister Boris Johnson calls “Whac-A-Mole.”
Kenya, too, is exploring ways to live with the virus. President Uhuru Kenyatta has extended curfew hours and lifted lockdowns in some regions, but stakeholders agree that the best strategy would be to find ways to coexist with the virus. Education Cabinet Secretary George Magoha has announced that classes will hold fewer students than usual, with a maximum of 15 to 20, to enable social distancing.
Counties are also required to set up 300 isolation beds per region to deal with patients better. With the surging numbers and Kenya yet to reach its peak, easing the bed shortage is expected to boost preparedness. As of last week, less than 15 counties had met the requirement.
South Korea calls its strategy “everyday life quarantine.” The country never implemented strict lockdowns and social-distancing measures remain guidelines. However, it has set a strict target of a maximum of about 50 new infections a day, which its public health system can withstand.
Japan, too, wants to keep its limits light to help restart its economy. It is considering allowing travellers from Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and Vietnam. Officials are warning people constantly to change the way they live, and citizens are advised to continue avoiding the “Three Cs” — closed, crowded, and close-contact activities.
As the world learns to live with the pandemic, it is clear that even the most successful countries cannot declare victory until a vaccine is found. The challenge presented by countries like the US, Brazil, and India, where the authorities never fully contained initial outbreaks, will continue to threaten to spread the virus.
“It’s always going to be with us,” said Simon James Thornley, an epidemiologist from the University of Auckland in New Zealand. “I don’t think we can eliminate the virus long term. We are going to need to learn to live with the virus.”
