Help hard limitations to deal with coronavirus? The experience of different countries

Today, when the pandemic swept the world, we see different ways to confront an insidious COVID-19. In Italy, halted all production in Israel imposed draconian restrictions for citizens, and Sweden did not even bother to declare a quarantine. China is recovering from the epidemic, and in the US mortality has a terrible record. Why similar methods of combating coronavirus all work differently and where the disease has receded, and where, on the contrary, the epidemic is in full swing?

Quarantine is firmly established in our everyday life and ruined her usual course. There are no fitness clubs, shopping, cafes and cinemas and even just to go out is strongly recommended. In our vocabulary the word "self-isolation" and will most likely sound everywhere it will be a long time.

Daily world economy suffers a tremendous loss and because of this suffering people, who are sent in indefinite leaves, deprived of bonuses and even fired. How justified strict quarantine and, if he could stop the coronavirus? Not in vain do we sacrifice their wealth, comfort and mental balance, abandoning life as we know it?

Let's see how the quarantine in different countries and try to understand why in one case it is effective, but not in others.

The President of the United States Donald trump fundamentally calls COVID-19 Chinese virus. It is actually so, because he appeared in the territory of this country. And that China, today, has proven to be most effective in confronting the epidemic.

In Hubei province, where the infamous Wuhan city for several days have not recorded a single case of infection with coronavirus. Moreover, in the vast country, where only a month ago, sick people were falling on the streets daily to identify no more than 60 new patients. While the Chinese authorities argue that most people who have arrived from abroad who are already infected.

Measures through which China has managed to achieve such impressive results in the world called inhuman. First, troops had cordoned off the city of Wuhan, and then the whole Hubei province. A little later, throughout the country, imposed a curfew and unprecedented restrictions for citizens.

People were forbidden to leave their homes, closed all the stores except grocery and drugstores, and stopped public transport. The streets went a special machine, spray disinfectant solutions and the marching ranks of a team of experts-a hazmat team in suits.

Was put to a severe control of the doctors and the police went to every house, every apartment, to check on the citizens to comply with self-isolation and whether anyone of them suspicious temperature. Over the streets flying drones with cameras that transmit information to systems of face recognition. Once outside of school hours on the street, and even without a mask, a resident of China will inevitably have trouble.

We can confidently say that the main thing in the fight against coronavirus is the speed. The political system of China is characterized by strong centralization, and supposed to be awkward. But it is not — thanks to the introduction of digital technology, the collection and processing of any information is at lightning speed, which greatly increases the speed of reaction to any event.

Electronics were involved wherever possible. In addition to drones, the police received a "smart" helmets, is able to determine remotely the temperature and the ubiquitous robots that darted through the alleys and yards, looking for careless offenders of the regime or "temperaturewhich" passers-by. For smartphones created a special application showing the potentially dangerous places on the maps of settlements.

It all seems like a cruel dystopia, and many have called China a "digital Gulag". Maybe the way it is, but most importantly, in China no more people die and the country has already begun to restore the injured from the quarantine of economy. In the same Wuhan, which became the "birthplace" of coronavirus, after a two-month quarantine almost all restrictions were lifted and people returned to normal life.

China's example was followed by the compact, but no less digitalnirvana Taiwan and Singapore. One of Singapore's programmers created applications for smartphones notifies the owner of the gadget that nearby people with suspected coronavirus.

In Japan, the prevalence of the disease is much lower than that of its neighbors and even Europe. The government still held and not put in quarantine, but this week gave up and closed the entrance. The Prime Minister said that it is not excluded a state of emergency.

Japanese this statement is not frightened, as the Country of the rising sun a state of emergency looks very human. To explain the low number of infected Japanese is easy — it's their centuries-old traditions of this country.

The Japanese used to always keep a distance instead of shaking hands to greet each other by bowing, and in addition like to wear the mask at any suitable case. The reason for the appearance of the street in a mask can be even the common cold — the people of Japan are very responsible attitude not only to her but to someone else's health.

In South Korea two weeks ago, was recovered twice more than patients, as the number of new detected cases was less than ten times. This has been achieved through large-scale testing of the population and a thorough control over the movement of cases.

Approach to solving problems used in South Korea, is one of the most successful in the world. Tests for the coronavirus in the country are produced in large quantities and their quality is very high. Citizens can test anywhere, even in cars — to get out of the salon not necessarily.

In the country pay close attention to even the people with symptoms of SARS lung — power is used to control the movements of potentially infected banking transactions and data mobile networks. Defined the route of each infected, so to those with whom he was in contact with, he immediately leaves the team with the tests.

In South Korea, information on cases is not hidden — an interactive map online showing where cases were identified. This is to ensure that citizens understand that the threat is near and it is not abstract.

Everybody knows that the epicenter of the epidemic in Europe was Italy. In this country, and introduced strict quarantine measures — not out on the street, events and much more. But the worst thing is that in Italy, halted all non-strategic production and it has already hit the economy of the country and its citizens.

Neither in Italy nor in France and the UK, who took her example cannot provide this level of control as in Asian countries. Digital technologies are not sufficiently embedded in the governance and quality and timely gathering of information impossible.

Therefore, the main quarantine measures in these countries — physical, and the main motivation to comply with them large fines. By the way, in Germany, violators will have to pay up to 10 thousand euros, and this amount is impressive, even wealthy burghers. Particularly hard-core "fighters with system", repeatedly violate the rules may face a prison sentence.

But that time is past — a lightning fast reaction to the first cases of infection followed. Is exacerbated by the fact that European borders are symbolic and to track the movement of infected citizens of the European Union is simply impossible. Therefore, the epidemic so rapidly spread to Italy, Germany, Spain and France and beginning to spread across to other States.

Sweden has opted for a fundamentally different way. In this country decided not to impose a quarantine and life keeps happening. Work in factories, people are sitting in restaurants and walking on the streets, public transport operates. Wasn't even closed borders.

The only limit which limits the life of the Swedes, can be considered a ban on gathering in one place for more than 50 people. This means that concerts, football matches and festivals will not be. People are advised to keep a safe distance.

Epidemiologist Annika Linde argues that Stockholm has gone the way of "collective immunity". The expert believes that the direction is right and in the long term is fully justified. In Europe will be hurt, sitting in quarantine, and in Sweden, herd immunity will allow to suppress new outbreaks.

While both the government and the majority of Swedish citizens are well aware that the country is absolutely not ready to struggle with the coronavirus and the selected method of protection just a way to justify the rejection of quarantine. Hard measures such as were adopted in Italy, will quickly drive the country's health care system in profound crisis.

While the Swedes helps their Nordic mentality. The country's low population density, and the citizens themselves do not differ sociability. It should also be noted that Sweden has decided to fully trust the government and if it is something that requires or recommends — everyone does it without question.

On the effectiveness taken in Europe measures to judge while early. None of the seriously affected countries, yet there is no decline in the number of cases or increase the amount recovered.

The number of infected COVID-19 the United States now ranks first in the world. As well as in Europe, in this country is technically impossible to establish strict control over the population. Complicated situation and a complex Federal structure of the country. Trump is in no hurry to impose a strict quarantine, while limiting emergency.

Quarantine is administered by some States and cities in its sole discretion. It now operates in California and new York, the most affected from infection due to high population density. In the United States may not conduct mass testing, as in South Korea, the country's simply no amount of tests. Not ready for the epidemic was the medical system of the country, with poor coordination and are not available to all citizens.

The Agency CNBC has reported that Americans who do not have insurance, for the treatment of coronavirus will have to pay 75 thousand dollars. Those who have insurance, can save, but they still have to pay for treatment from 20 to 40 thousand dollars.

Therefore, it is likely that many Americans with low incomes, feeling bad, will hide symptoms until the last, secretly hoping that the cough and fever caused by the common cold, not a coronavirus.

It's time to take stock. How effective is quarantine measures adopted today by many countries? Yes, quarantine works, but on the condition that all government agencies work more closely. The efficiency of mass testing and monitoring are the main components of success in combating the epidemic.

China, South Korea and Singapore — here's a great example of how well-organized quarantine and high technology helps to defeat infection. Japan and Sweden show that traditions can also be a good help in the fight against the disease. But the success of the quarantine in Italy, Spain, France and UK can not speak — these countries do not Asian enough pressure, speed and organization.