The whole world is now experiencing one specific situation that have hampered everything – from the population’s health / mortality, to the eventual economic collapse.
According to worldofmeters.info, the world’s Coronavirus cases is almost 1.8 million as of this writing and will reach 2 million mark soon if there are no further drastic measures will be conducted by each country that is affected. Now that the pandemic is here, how does each country cope up to eradicate the virus?
WHat the world currently is in with the Virus
For the purposes of analysis, the list is narrowed down to some key countries. The chart shows 15 selected countries that have different reactions to the virus in terms of confirmed cases, death rates, and recovery rates.
The global recovery rate is at 79% while the death rate is at 21%, but it is not directly translating to each country.
Interestingly, China has the highest recovery rate (94%) and a lower death rate (4%) than the global rate. South Korea also has a high recovery rate and a low death rate. On the other hand, US currently has a low recovery rate and even United Kingdom and Netherlands have higher death rates than their recovery rates.
A number of factors have affected the spread of Covid-19 and one of them is human travel, specifically by air.
In this chart, it is notable that China and United States are among the top countries that are well-traveled in which they have served 600,000 airline passengers and almost 900,000 passengers respectively every year.
It is also worth noting that people tend to travel multiple times a year for countries such as Singapore, Malaysia, France, Netherlands, and Germany in which they have served more airline passengers in a year than their total actual population.
People that are aged 65 and up are more likely to contract Covid-19 along with underlying conditions.
Looking at the age demographics, Italy, Germany, France, and Japan have more than 20% of their total population ages 65 and up.
On the other hand, Philippines, Malaysia, India, and Iran have younger people in total as it only has less then 10% of population with age 65 years and up.
Social distancing is one of the key mitigation activities that are being done in order to contain and prevent the spread the virus. However, a cramped-up population on a limited space / land area may be a challenge.
In the case of Singapore, its total population sits within a very small amount of space with a density of 8,000 people within a square kilometer of land. United States, China, Canada, and Australia won’t have a problem with this if there is really a need for isolation because of their massive land area.
HOW ARE THE COUNTRIES COPING UP AND WHAT COULD BE IN STORE FOR THEM
Numbers on these charts are just mere numbers and it could mean differently to each country. Let’s narrow it down further and be more specific.
China
World Ranking for total cases: #6
Ranking within continent: #1 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Already managed
The 76 days of lockdown of Wuhan turned out to be a great strategy in which the virus are supposedly contained, at least for the whole country. The immediate construction of dedicated hospitals has also given them a great advantage in gearing towards flattening the curve that was achieved around early March 2020.
Risk for potential further spread:
Medium
While the curve has already been flattened for China, its vulnerability for further spread or the so-called second wave could be imminent if they are not careful and vigilant. Their total population is a liability in this situation and their traveling habits as well. However, their current population age is a plus as they have a larger percentage of the younger ones that are less likely to contract the virus. Their very large land area could be advantageous as well should there be a need for further isolation.
United States
World Ranking for total cases: #1
Ranking within continent: #1 (North America)
Flattening the curve status:
Exponentially increasing
With a key reaction of almost none towards the imminent spread of the virus within the country, the US is now currently racing for all the possible measures in order to keep up with the time in fighting the pandemic.
Risk for potential further spread:
Medium
It cannot be measured as of yet on whether the numbers on the charts mentioned here could be to the US’s advantage, but restricting or minimizing airline travels could be a good strategy as their age demographics and land area gives them a great plus in fighting the virus and keep them for further spread.
Italy
World Ranking for total cases: #3
Ranking within continent: #2 (Europe)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
A little over a month back, Italy was the epitome of ignoring the imminent pandemic in which their preventive measures started right in the middle of the exponential increase of cases. But on a positive note, the country is slowly getting back on its feet in fighting the pandemic as they are now gearing towards flattening the curve.
Risk for potential further spread:
Low
The charts show that Italy is only at a disadvantage in terms of the age demographics, but changing a little bit of their culture of being physically passionate could prove very useful in the end.
Spain
World Ranking for total cases: #2
Ranking within continent: #1 (Europe)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
Almost the same case and situation with Italy, Spain could have also prevented the widespread of the virus if they did a pro-active approach. They are currently managing the situation slowly and we are hoping for the better for them soon.
Risk for potential further spread:
Medium
If all the dust have settled and the increasing Covid-19 cases have been managed, Spain should still remain vigilant and should still reduce human travels in and out of the country as well as within. To add to that, their higher potential to contract the disease is shown on their higher percentage of population with ages 65 and up.
Germany
World Ranking for total cases: #4
Ranking within continent: #3 (Europe)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
A positive note in Germany’s situation against the Covid-19 is that their death rate is very low compared to other countries. They are currently slowly managing the situation.
Risk for potential further spread:
Medium
Similar to Spain, Germany has to remain vigilant in human travels and look after a large percentage of population with ages 65 and up to prevent them from contracting the virus.
Australia
World Ranking for total cases: #24
Ranking within continent: #1 (Australia and Oceania)
Flattening the curve status:
Already managed
While it is just a few days back in seeing the curve being flattened for Australia, we hope to safely say that they are managing the spread well.
Risk for potential further spread:
Low
Now that there is a relatively better management of the spread of the virus for Australia, they should remain vigilant in terms of human travels to prevent further spread and not experience another case of lacking toilet papers.
France
World Ranking for total cases: #5
Ranking within continent: #3 (Europe)
Flattening the curve status:
Exponentially Increasing
While the preventive measures seemed to be performed right on-time, the current cases in France for Covid-19 still seem to be not slowing down. However, positive things could happen soon in France’s fight against the pandemic.
Risk for potential further spread:
High
Numbers on the charts are not favoring France as they a high rate of human travels by air and an ageing population. They should remain vigilant and weary once they start to manage the pandemic spread.
United Kingdom
World Ranking for total cases: #8
Ranking within continent: #5 (Europe)
Flattening the curve status:
Currently Increasing
Indeed the current measures being done by UK is showing signs on the positive, however, it seems that the reaction to the pandemic is a little bit late of just about a few weeks.
Risk for potential further spread:
High
Similar to France, The Brits have a high rate of human travels by air and an ageing population. They should also remain vigilant and weary once they start to manage the pandemic spread.
Canada
World Ranking for total cases: #13
Ranking within continent: #2 (North america)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
Since shutting its borders almost a month ago, Canada’s fight against Covid-19 is favoring them as there are now signs of normalizing the curve.
Risk for potential further spread:
Low
Canada can manage further once they have normalize the spread of the virus as long as they keep some kind of travel restrictions to its citizens.
South Korea
World Ranking for total cases: #17
Ranking within continent: #3 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Already managed
As one of the first countries hit by the Covid-19 outbreak apart from China, South Korea has brilliantly flattened the curve and has currently managed the virus spread.
Risk for potential further spread:
High
Korea still has to remain vigilant despite managing the spread. As the other countries in the world are still coping with the spread management, they should still limit the travels as they a high population density and a relatively older population.
Iran
World Ranking for total cases: #7
Ranking within continent: #3 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
Despite the accusations, Iran’s efforts to eradicate the virus spread is now bearing fruits and hopefully we see the flattening of the curve very soon.
Risk for potential further spread:
Low
Basing on the chart numbers, Iran do not travel much, has a great land area, and young population. They should be alright.
Philippines
World Ranking for total cases: #35
Ranking within continent: #9 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
The efforts of containing Covid-19 is slowly bearing fruits as the Philippines’ curve is slowly flattening. In this situation, it seems that declaration of lockdown is probably on-time with just a month showing positive results. We hope that when mass testing commences, it would sustain.
Risk for potential further spread:
Low
Basing on the chart numbers, Philippines do not travel much, has a suitable amount of land area, and a young population.
Japan
World Ranking for total cases: #29
Ranking within continent: #6 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Currently increasing
One of the first countries hit by the virus aside from China, it has sustained since then but probably due to lack of further preventive measures, it is now slowly increasing. Let’s hope their current announcements will yield positive results.
Risk for potential further spread:
High
Out of all the countries mentioned here, Japan has the highest percentage of the population with ages 65 and up. Along with the high rate of air travels and a little bit high population density, Japan has to be aware of these possible factors that could encourage further spread.
Malaysia
World Ranking for total cases: #34
Ranking within continent: #8 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Currently increasing
Considered as one of the top countries with the strictest preventive measures against Covid-19, their MCO (Movement Control Order) is yielding positive results slowly but surely.
Risk for potential further spread:
Low
As long as Malaysia will keep a means of travel restriction while other countries are still coping up with the virus, they should be alright in preventing further spread.
Netherlands
World Ranking for total cases: #12
Ranking within continent: #9 (Europe)
Flattening the curve status:
Currently increasing
Though records show that there is still signs of increasing cases, there are clear signs of drops and the Dutch government is now gearing towards economic recovery.
Risk for potential further spread:
High
With a high rate of population ages 65 and up, a high population density, as well as high air travel occurrences, Netherlands should not be too sure and keep any eye on the possible further spread.
Israel
World Ranking for total cases: #19
Ranking within continent: #4 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Starting to manage
Even with some unique preventive measures that are not common with other countries, Israel is making good progress and is now starting to manage the spread.
Risk for potential further spread:
Medium
Though the number on the charts mostly favors Israel, they still should be vigilant to prevent further spread as they may have problems on isolating Covid-19 cases as they have relatively high population density.
India
World Ranking for total cases: #21
Ranking within continent: #5 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Currently Increasing
The current preventive measures are considered late for India but that is already after the fact. We can only hope that it will sustain and flatten the curve soon.
Risk for potential further spread:
Medium
Similar to Israel, India’s numbers are on the positive on the charts, however, their population density is going to be a problem in the event of further spread.
Singapore
World Ranking for total cases: #50
Ranking within continent: #5 (Asia)
Flattening the curve status:
Currently Increasing
While Singapore’s Covid-19 cases were relatively very low and well-managed for the past 3 months, recent spike on the increase of cases is now showing which their government was forced to enact the so-called circuit breaker.
Risk for potential further spread:
High
Singapore must be very careful in letting the coronavirus from spreading further as they are travel heavy and their >3,000 population density per sq. Km is at a high disadvantage for them.
Covid-19 has made the whole world scrambling for mitigation and eventual eradication whether they admit it or not. Each country has its own characteristic on how they contracted the disease or what factors influenced the spread. The charts here only shows a small piece of the puzzle, but it is still a good way to have at least a baseline.
How about you? Are you satisfied with your country’s efforts to prevent Covid-19 to spread further? Tell us what you think.
Categories: current events, Facts, humor, opinion
2 replies ›