It has been a little while since my last coronavirus-focused newsletter, but I needed to step away from digesting all of this for a bit.
As different parts of the world, and different parts of individual countries, start to reach different points in this outbreak it will be interesting (and mildly terrifying) to see how they all handle loosening current restrictions differently.
I don’t know about everyone else, but right now I feel like I am waiting for information about how my summer will look. I hope it is not exactly as the spring has been, for several reasons; I also am not sure how I will start feeling comfortable to resume some kind of normal out-of-my-house activity once we can.
The section of this newsletter outlining the situation in various countries gets longer every time, huh? I can’t possibly hit on them all, but I’m trying to get a sample of the situation from various parts of the world.
Around the World
The situation in Canada (43K cases, 2,241 deaths) is quite varied across the country. Ontario is expected to hit its peak for cases this week but testing is still lagging. Saskatchewan plans to begin opening things up, starting with some currently restricted medical services. And here in Newfoundland and Labrador, we’ve gone six days with no new cases but the provincial government cautions that any reopening won’t come before May at the earliest, and will happen very slowly when it starts.
There is a lot of variation across the United States (869K cases, 49,963 deaths) as well. Deaths are decreasing in hard-hit New York, though social distancing policies are still in place. Meanwhile, an autopsy in California revealed that the first confirmed COVID-19 death in the country was on February 6, more than three weeks earlier than believed. And though the large majority of American express support for stay-at-home measures, protests (sometimes armed) against lockdowns were held in several parts of the country.
Italy (189K cases, 25,549 deaths) is on the slow recovery path from its COVID-19 outbreak, but the impact of the decimation of its tourism industry will hurt for a long while yet. Interestingly, Milan is taking a new approach to vehicles as its slowly reopens.
Strict lockdown measures are still in place in India (23K cases, 722 deaths), and residents appear to be on board — sometimes in ways that are helpful, other times in ways that are harmful and xenophobic. In Kerala, local success in preventing the spread of COVID-19 may be thanks in part to a recent experience with a different virus, Nipah.
Local hospitals quickly lost the ability to handle the influx of coronavirus patients in Ecuador (11K cases, 560 deaths), which has one of the highest rates of the virus in Latin America. But some government officials say the real toll is even worse.
There is concern in China (83K cases, 4, 636 deaths) about a second wave of infection as the country re-emerges after being the first place where COVID-19 broke out. Meanwhile, some of the earliest coronavirus patients are still testing positive for the virus in the country, weeks after their symptoms are gone.
Criticism of the government response to coronavirus is continuing in the United Kingdom (139K cases, 18,791 deaths) as the country continues to struggle with testing and PPE.
The president of Brazil (50K cases, 3,343 deaths) has repeatedly dismissed COVID-19 as an overblown health threat, but the virus is seriously straining the already-overloaded health care system in Manaus.
In South Korea (10K cases, 240 deaths), new cases of coronavirus have dropped to near nil but the impact on the country’s economy continues, with it expected to post its first GDP contraction since 2008.
After earlier denials, North Korea (unknown) confirmed its first cases of COVID-19 earlier this week, though the official statement claims cases are limited. Given the location of the confirmed cases (top, bottom, and middle of the country) and the frequent illegal movement across North Korea’s border with China, that seems unlikely.
Singapore (12K cases, 12 deaths) had been hailed as a COVID-19 success story, but the country now has the most confirmed cases in southeast Asia. Thousands of the country’s new cases are in the crowded dormitories that house the migrant workers who make up a third of the country’s workforce.
In contrast to most of the rest of Europe, Sweden (17K cases, 2,152 deaths) took a more relaxed approach to prevent the spread of coronavirus — a decision they say is paying off so far. In absolute and relative terms deaths are higher than in other Scandinavian countries but well below those recorded in France, Italy, and the UK.
In Chile (11K cases, 168 deaths), the government plans to issue “immunity passports” that allow recovered COVID-19 patients to go back to work. However, there is still a lot about coronavirus recovery and potential immunity that isn’t yet known.
In the Democratic Republic of Congo (394 cases, 25 deaths), as in many other countries, a fight against multiple diseases is happening at the same time as the fight against COVID-19.
Lockdown measures for children have been the most strict in Spain (219K cases, 22,524 deaths) and they appear to be taking a toll. (On their parents too, one assumes.) Earlier this week, government officials in the country allowed children to take walks outside for the first time in six weeks.
In contrast to Spain, my friend Paula pointed out that Portugal (22K cases, 854 deaths) has had far fewer COVID-19 cases and deaths than other hard-hit European countries. There are likely a few factors at play including a quick call of a state of emergency and easier border control, but some are hypothesizing that the country’s mandatory TB vaccination policy may have helped. However, though on the whole, the country has fared well its Brazilian migrant community is struggling and there has been an outbreak in a hostel for migrants.
Iraq (1.5K cases, 83 deaths) is resisting Iranian requests to reopen the border between the two countries. Trade with Iraq is important to Iran’s economy, but Iraq is concerned about the spread of coronavirus from their neighbour, where there have been 5,574 deaths.
Other Stuff
Coronavirus screwing up your sleep? It can’t be just me.
Businesses and governments are using surveillance technology to track and fight the COVID-19 pandemic, to varying degrees of success. It’s a perfect example of how a particular technology has beneficial uses but also has negative effects that may be difficult to roll back down the road.
Depending on where you live, you may be hearing that your area has reached, or is close to reaching, its peak of coronavirus cases. What may be less clear is what that means, and what comes afterward.
This op-ed from a physician who has been treating coronavirus patients is both valuable and upsetting. We’re also starting to learn more about how these patients fare once they begin to recover, including the potential effects of extended time on a ventilator and the mental health implications of nearly dying.
The necessary focus of many healthcare systems and hospitals on treating and preventing COVID-19 has consequences for public health in other ways. Organ donations are down, for example,
The cruise industry has not exactly covered itself with glory in this entire situation, huh? (You can also listen to this article if you prefer. It’s a nice way to take a screen break!)
In Canada and the United States we have struggled to get enough protective gear for frontline workers, and some hospitals have not had the ICU beds or ventilators they needed. But in many countries around the world, ventilators are the least of their concerns — even basics like clean water and soap are not easy to come by. (Here is where I will remind you that there are also many First Nations communities in this country without clean water and/or adequate testing and supplies right now.)