This archive report was first published on 7 July 2020.
As the world grapples with the Covid-19 pandemic, which has infected over nine million people in 213 countries, it's clear that some nations have been more successful than others in containing the spread of the virus.
One of the key factors that has contributed to the success of countries like Taiwan and New Zealand is their swift and decisive action in implementing measures to slow the spread of the virus.
For instance, Taiwan, which has a population of 23 million people, has recorded a mere 446 Covid-19 cases and seven deaths. The country's success can be attributed to its painful memories of the 2002 SARS outbreak, which claimed over 800 lives in Taiwan alone.
As soon as the novel coronavirus was announced in Wuhan, China, late last year, Taiwan took the first step of stopping the export of protective masks. Taiwanese citizens began wearing face masks and observing social distance even before the first case was detected in their country.
The government also focused its energy on medical infrastructure, ensuring that hospitals were well-equipped and citizens were being tested for the coronavirus as much as possible.
Similarly, New Zealand, which has a population of five million inhabitants, was declared Covid-19-free after only three months of observing stringent measures. The country's Prime Minister, Jacinda Ardern, has been praised for her 'go early, go fast' strategy.
Wellington put in place stringent measures, including lockdown, travel bans, and closure of social gathering spots and businesses, as soon as the first case was announced within the island. The Prime Minister's determination was evident when she demoted the Health Minister for taking his family on a 20-minute beach drive, saying 'I expected better from you.'
On the other hand, countries that opted to take their time in implementing measures have struggled to contain the spread of the virus. The United States, for instance, has been upbraided for misleading Americans, with the country's number of Covid-19 patients surging to over two million infections and over 125,000 deaths.
