Lessons from other nations’ Covid success

NEIL Stafford (“Time to reflect on ‘self versus society’”, Opinion, February 5) made some useful comparisons with Singapore and South Korea. Yes, the warmer climate in Singapore (population: 5.8m/ Covid deaths: 29) is no doubt a benefit to respiratory health and South Korea (51.2m/1,464) having a huge testing capacity available at the start was a big advantage.

But what about them and other nations in that region quickly shutting their borders and whole populations masking up? My point – did our cold winter and a lack of initial testing along with general health factors prevent our Government from acting more quickly on those fundamental measures? I think not.

Yes, Europe has also fared badly but no country to date worse than the UK. Some have been successful. For example, you could describe Norway as a cold nation (5.3m/582) and Finland (5.5m/688). Their measures appear to be working. Closer to home – the Isle of Man (84,000/25), where closing their border was a top priority and they are now cautiously easing restrictions.

Neil quoted what a Korean academic had said about his people being “very obedient and very responsible towards their fellow humans”. A very good point and one that also applies to other societies in that region.

But for a number of reasons unfortunately not to everyone here, not even during a deadly pandemic.

But shouldn’t the Government, as part of the first duty (security of the nation and safety of the people), have installed by now a sense of responsibility in all people? Wartime spirit and civic duty both sum it up.

Finally, aside from the political aspects, what stood out in the picture of teachers protesting in Yangon against the coup (“Hundreds protest over Myanmar coup”, Post, February 6) was that they were all wearing what looked like medicalgrade face masks. No used-looking ones or worn under the nose or chin there. Population of Myanmar: 54m /Covid reported deaths: 3,168.

Mark Iles Newark