Main description:

It is impossible to reflect on 2020 without discussing Covid-19. The term, literally meaning corona-(CO) virus (VI) disease (D) of 2019, has become synonymous with "the virus", "corona" and "the pandemic". The impact of the virus on our lives is unprecedented in modern human history, in terms of scale, depth and resilience. When compared to other epidemics that have plagued the world in recent decades, Covid-19 is often referred to as being much more "deadly" and is associated with advances in technology which scientists have described as "revolutionary". From politics to economics, spanning families and continents, Covid-19 has unsettled norms: cultural clashes are intensified, politics are even more polarized, and regional tensions and conflicts are on the rise. Global trade patterns and supply chains are increasingly being questioned and redrawn. The world is being atomized, and individuals are forced to accept the "new normal" in their routines.

In an attempt to combat the virus and minimize its detrimental effects, countries have undertaken different preventive strategies and containment policies. Some have successfully curbed the spread of Covid-19, while many others remain in limbo, doing their best to respond to outbreaks in cases. To gain a better understanding of how to fight Covid-19, it is imperative to evaluate the success and failures of these approaches. Under what conditions is an approach successful? When should it be avoided? How can this information be used to avoid future pandemics?

This volume offers informative comparative case studies that shed light on these key questions. Each country case is perceptively analyzed and includes a detailed timeline, allowing readers to view each response with hindsight and extrapolate the data to better understand what the future holds. Taken as a whole, this collection offers invaluable insight at this critical juncture in the Covid-19 pandemic.

Contents:

01 GLOBAL
The Development of the Global Pandemic
The Hard Questions the World Health Organization Must Answer in Its Coronavirus Inquiry
Timeline
02 CAMBODIA
COVID-19 in Cambodia: Managing a Crisis with Limited Resources
Timeline
03 MAINLAND CHINA
COVID-19 in Mainland China: Anti-Epidemic Social Mobilization under Comprehensive Management
Timeline
04 GERMANY
COVID-19 in Germany: Learning to Dance with the Virus
Timeline
05 HONG KONG
COVID-19 in Hong Kong: Pulling Together amidst Divisions
Fighting COVID-19 in Hong Kong: The Effects of Community and Social Mobilization
Timeline
06 MACAO
COVID-19 in Macao: A Brief Review of the Macao Government's Anti-epidemic Measures
Timeline
07 NEW ZEALAND
COVID-19 in New Zealand: Scientific Advice and Political Realities
Timeline
08 TAIWAN
COVID-19 in Taiwan: Some Crucial Experiences for Fighting the Pandemic
Timeline
09 UNITED KINGDOM
COVID-19 in the United Kingdom: Capability Development and Limitations
Timeline
10 UNITED STATES
Timeline