Why have certain countries not suffered?

[Wilsonwilson]

There is a streamer I watch who has been trapped in Vietnam. They had a short lock down in march but have been fine since. Why? It doesn't make sense.

Why are certain countries seemingly not affected? It doesn't make any sense

What doesn't make sense is you calling me a racist for pointing out a fact.

@Wilsonwilson

Why are certain countries seemingly not affected? It doesn't make any sense

Specifically which certain countries are you referring to.

Maybe if you tell us which countries you see as having not been affected someone can give you an explanation for that location.

I think we’re all meant to be saying wow op you’re right, it’s because it’s all a hoax

Having lived in East Asia for many years, I absolutely believe that the more compliant, collectivist nature of East Asian culture has helped to limit the spread. We in the west are much more individualistic and much less inclined to accept collective responsibility.

I don't think that tells the whole story, though. I'm also not convinced that it's purely about government responses either, though I do think the UK government's slowness and indecision has fed into us having one of the worst death rates in the world. I also think that many East Asian countries learnt a lot from the SARS epidemic back in 2003, which may have helped them respond more quickly.

Other cultural factors are probably also at play. The normality of mask-wearing, for example; better hand hygiene in some countries; less tactile ways of greeting etc. And healthier populations with lower rates of obesity etc.

I'm interested in the idea that there may be some natural immunity in the Asia Pacific region from previous viruses, but don't know enough of the science to know whether that's likely to be a factor.

Oh that explains the cognitive dissonance.

I read something about Vietnam. There had supposedly been another virus out of China that the Vietnam government were already dealing with, China had allegedly covered it up, but Vietnam found out and between the two surpressed it. So in theory they already had plans in place. Vietnam have been contact tracing with a stronger approach. If you test positive not only do you and your contacts isolate, but your contacts contacts isolate too. And it's done very fast with authorities enforcing it.
I don't know how reputable the author was mind. Could have been bullshit. I read it with a pinch of salt.

I think because other countries placed restrictions very early on when it all started, I remember reading the news everyday from international outlets last January 2020 when the news broke out about the virus in China, and I was surprised that it was not being taken more seriously especially by Europe and UK back then, I guess because people never thought that it would reach here, and will mostly be in Asia again like SARS. During that time lots of Asian countries started putting restrictions already because of their experience in SARS. I remember my parents who are living in Asia had restrictions placed where they live as early as Feb. And people started wearing masks even outdoors especially in crowded places, and you are kind of the odd one out when you don't. My parents were surprised that we weren't wearing masks here early on in the pandemic. Also behaviour of people. I look at my friends in Asia and they always have masks on even with plastic shields when they go out. Proper medical masks and as I said if you don't wear one you probably will be embarrassed, not saying that this is right or wrong but just noticing how behaviors are different.

Anyway someone posted about different strain. I read an article about it and it is true you can see in the graphs that most of the strain in Asia are the original one from China or other less infectious strain then here in Europe the virus mutated quickly and now we have the more infectious one, and this is in relation with who closed down/had restrcitons early on the pandemic. So you can see Asia closed pretty much quickly and managed to stop transmission more so less of the more infectious mutated virus.

Here is the article it is quite interesting

graphics.reuters.com/HEALTH-CORONAVIRUS/EVOLUTION/yxmpjqkdzvr/

Vietnam I am talking about, literally new years eve many crowds hardly any wearing masks. People going on about stereotypes, knowing fuck all about anything.

I think you destroyed OP's thread by all your sensible answers. Very interesting inputs .

@Wilsonwilson knowing fuck all about anything

You said it.

Vietnam already had plans in place for a public health emergency on a large scale, closed borders very early & tracked cases news.un.org/en/story/2020/08/1070852

Notably, the Vietnamese public had been exceptionally compliant with government directives and advice, partly as a result of trust built up thanks to real time, transparent communication from the Ministry of Health, supported by the WHO and other UN agencies
That’s a quote from the UN.

You are all being far too logical and sensible for ops liking! Op you remind me if a toddler stamping their foot in frustration "but why?? Why?? Whhhhyyyy??"

@AlexaShutUp

Having lived in East Asia for many years, I absolutely believe that the more compliant, collectivist nature of East Asian culture has helped to limit the spread. We in the west are much more individualistic and much less inclined to accept collective responsibility.

I don't think that tells the whole story, though. I'm also not convinced that it's purely about government responses either, though I do think the UK government's slowness and indecision has fed into us having one of the worst death rates in the world. I also think that many East Asian countries learnt a lot from the SARS epidemic back in 2003, which may have helped them respond more quickly.

Other cultural factors are probably also at play. The normality of mask-wearing, for example; better hand hygiene in some countries; less tactile ways of greeting etc. And healthier populations with lower rates of obesity etc.

I'm interested in the idea that there may be some natural immunity in the Asia Pacific region from previous viruses, but don't know enough of the science to know whether that's likely to be a factor.

Completely agree with you. I know a lot of Japanese people and have lived there for a bit and there is definitely a strong sense of collective responsibility. And completely spot on about cultural factors and previous experience with SARS. I'm from an Asian country originally and we are actually one of the countries with less compliant people I would say 😂 but everyone I know wears a mask and would not go outside without any sort of protection because again we were scared of SARS. Education also has been completely on line since Feb I think. AGAIN not saying that this is the right thing to do or not but just highlighting different behaviours I have noticed.

Vietnam I am talking about, literally new years eve many crowds hardly any wearing masks.

OP, why don't you share your own thoughts about why things are different in some countries? It seems that you have a theory of some sort, seeing as you're so eager to shoot down any other suggestions.

While you're at it, perhaps you could share any credentials that qualify you to speak on this subject, e.g. academic qualifications, professional experience, years spent in the region etc. So far, you've only mentioned something about a streamer that you happen to watch, but I presume there is more?

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/www.bbc.com/news/amp/world-asia-52628283

So Vietnam enacted action early and had population compliance, as stated by several PPs

Travel restrictions, closed schools, extensive contact tracing and 14 days enforced stays in quarantine centres for people entering the country and contacts of positive cases.

Op, whats your problem?

You ask a question then are really aggressive to people who answer it, and then to top it off you make up batshit statements accusing people of suggesting things that not one person has suggested. You cant suggest people are racist because they believe other countries follow the rules better then you go on to extrapolate that westerners feel they can think for themselves. You are coming across really badly.

Wait... Maybe covid is racist and only badly affects europeans?! Dun dun duuuuun...

Read this thread about what happens when you land at Seoul airport

twitter.com/koryodynasty/status/1345210393715564544?s=21

They are clearly very serious about quarantine unlike Heathrow Airport

They are clearly very serious about quarantine unlike Heathrow Airport

Yes, indeed. DH was in an Asian country for work when it all kicked off in March last year. He had to jump through so many hoops at the airport before he was allowed to get on the plane - temperature checks, health questionnaires etc. He then spent a few hours in transit in another Asian country which had just closed its borders, and again, there were temperature checks and health questionnaires before he was allowed to board the plane. He couldn't believe it when he arrived in Heathrow, and it was as if nothing was going on at all.

Pandemic? What pandemic?

We were slow to react even amongst European countries. I remember my relatives in Ireland texting me in March, saying wtf is going on in the UK, why aren't you locking down?

They responded more quickly and harder and suppressed it. They reacted as if it was SARS in the east, they reacted as if it flu in the west.

@HalfPastThree

The whole of the Asia-Pacific region has got off extremely lightly. There's something suppressing the virus, but I haven't seen any good explanations as to what.

Japan has done very little, and everyday life is far closer to normal than it is en Europe, yet their death rate is tiny compared to ours.

South Korea claimed to have suppressed it via test-and-trace, which was a disaster everywhere it was tried in Europe.

Cambodia is a poor and corrupt country with terrible public health, yet they've had hardly any Covid deaths.

Vitamin D levels, perhaps?

Omg marshmallow

Unsurprisingly, their rates are lower than ours!

@Em777 Japan and South Korea have four seasons like Europe and cold snowy winters. Both are regional ski holiday destinations. So I doubt vitamin D explains it.

Obesity rates are much lower in the Far East.