[BostonCard]

The key in Germany is they tested early and they tested a lot.  The countries that struggled (Spain, Italy, the US) struggled because they were flying blind until lots of people started showing up in the hospital.  Italy was caught unawares as one of the first countries outside of China to be hit hard.  In the US, having a poorly developed and fractured public health response certainly didn't help, but the testing screw up compounded all the problems.

Spaniards and Italians are not exactly known for compliance and following government orders.  Their response was much too late, but when instituted was effective.  Italy had 584 cases and 117 deaths in the last 24 hours, Spain had 510 cases and 1(!) death.  And while the high death rate might have made them more willing to listen to their governments, UK has had similar death rates (plus news of their PM in the ICU) and is still struggling to get the epidemic under control (2013 new cases/412 new deaths).  I have a soft spot for Boris Johnson, but he has not dealt with the pandemic well; dithering at first whether to do a Swedish style response, then instituting the lockdown late, and then lifting it with the poorly defined slogan "stay alert!".

BC

[BostonCard]

The key in Germany is they tested early and they tested a lot.  The countries that struggled (Spain, Italy, the US) struggled because they were flying blind until lots of people started showing up in the hospital.  Italy was caught unawares as one of the first countries outside of China to be hit hard.  In the US, having a poorly developed and fractured public health response certainly didn't help, but the testing screw up compounded all the problems.

Spaniards and Italians are not exactly known for compliance and following government orders.  Their response was much too late, but when instituted was effective.  Italy had 584 cases and 117 deaths in the last 24 hours, Spain had 510 cases and 1(!) death.  And while the high death rate might have made them more willing to listen to their governments, UK has had similar death rates (plus news of their PM in the ICU) and is still struggling to get the epidemic under control (2013 new cases/412 new deaths).  I have a soft spot for Boris Johnson, but he has not dealt with the pandemic well; dithering at first whether to do a Swedish style response, then instituting the lockdown late, and then lifting it with the poorly defined slogan "stay alert!".

BC