World leaders . . . and losers!
There’s nothing like a crisis to show us which heads of state are worthy of the position and who should be shown the door
‘People are going to die, I’m sorry. But we can’t stop a car factory because there are traffic accidents’ ‘There’s no perfect and modern medical service establishment, even in the capital city’
POOR PERFORMERS
JAIR BOLSONARO (65) Brazil’s president thinks shutting down the country’s economy will ruin his chances of re-election. He’s also referred to the pandemic as a “little flu” and criticised social-distancing measures as “job killers”.
Bolsonaro’s disregard for lockdown – he joined anti-lockdown protests – sows confusion across Brazil, British medical journal The Lancet reports.
With more than 293 000 people infected and more than 18 000 deaths, Brazil is fast becoming one of the world’s coronavirus hotspots.
In response to a journalist’s question about the number of deaths, Bolsonaro said, “So what? I’m sorry, but what do you want me to do?”
Two health ministers recently quit – the one less than a month on the job – because they disagreed with how he’s handled the pandemic.
KIM JONG-UN (36) When Kim Jong-un withdrew from public view for three weeks in April, he reportedly retreated to a resort after learning aides had coronaviruslike symptoms – even though the government insists it has no cases.
Despite this assertion local media reported on the deaths of some 200 soldiers who suffered Covid-19 symptoms. By its own account, North Korea quarantined 10 000 people.
“Authoritarian states are good at shutting things down, controlling the population. And it may be that North Korea has harnessed its tools of repression to prevent an outbreak,” journalist Oliver Hotham wrote in NK News.
Sealing the borders early on may have slowed the spread of Covid-19 but experts are sceptical of North Korea’s ability to manage an outbreak as decades of sanctions have gutted the country’s health infrastructure.
DONALD TRUMP (73) The American president has been handling the crisis badly, by most accounts.
The US has more than 1,5 million confirmed coronavirus cases, with a death toll of more than 90 000 – the highest in the world.
Trump was slow to enforce a lockdown and quick to push for reopening the economy.
He’s been blasted by scientists, medics and other world leaders. Even former president Barack Obama said the US government’s response has been “an absolute chaotic disaster”.
From the outset Trump downplayed the danger of the virus, reassuring Americans “it’s something we have tremendous control over”. He’s gone from denial to blame to suggesting household disinfectant as a treatment to touting an anti-malaria drug as a cure – all while disregarding the advice of scientists, doctors and health experts.
BORIS JOHNSON (55) Critics say the United Kingdom’s prime minister, who ended up in hospital after contracting Covid-19, bungled their response to the crisis by underestimating its threat and being slow to act.
While the rest of Europe adopted social-distancing strategies in early March, the UK decided to protect vulnerable people such as the elderly, while letting the virus circulate in the public to develop a herd immunity.
When a lockdown was eventually enforced, the rules were so relaxed people could still go for walks and jogs.
The country’s complacency came at a high cost: close to 37 000 people have died while more than 251 000 are infected.
Johnson pledged to set up a nationwide tracing operation after opposition leader Keir Starmer pointed out there’d been no effective tracing in the UK for more than two months.
ALL-STARS
JACINDA ARDERN (39) “The masterclass on how to respond belongs to Jacinda Ardern,” The New York Times proclaimed.
By and large New Zealand’s prime minister has been praised across the globe for her handling of the crisis.
She closed the country’s borders early on, banned mass gatherings, closed schools and shopping centres and restricted socialising.
Despite having one of the strictest lockdowns, her popularity is soaring, largely because her decisive approach was based on scientific facts and empathy.
Ardern, the mom of a 23-month-old boy, regularly appears in Facebook Live chats to keep in touch with citizens.
Thanks to her philosophy of “going hard and going early”, at the time of going to print New Zealand had just 21 deaths, 1 153 infections and 1 452 recoveries.
Now she’s turned her attention to restructuring the economy. The progressive prime minister is urging employers to consider a four-day working week as she believes flexible working options can boost productivity and domestic tourism, which will help get the economy going.
LEE HSIEN LOONG (68) Singapore’s swift and proactive response has been hailed a success story. The prime minister closed the borders and started tracking citizens and their contacts early in the outbreak.
Tests are free, widespread and frequent and anyone who tests positive, regardless of the severity of their symptoms, is placed into quarantine. An app was also created to monitor people’s physical interactions.
Singapore’s government sends Covid-19 updates on the number of new and recovered cases and specific locations of suspected outbreaks to citizens via WhatsApp twice a day.
“Singapore is a good example of an allgovernment approach – prime minister Lee Hsien Loong’s regular videos are helping to explain the risks and reassure people,” said World Health Organisation chief Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
ANGELA MERKEL (65) Germany has been testing people far more than most nations. With about 8 270 deaths, 179 000 cases and 157 000 recoveries, it’s seen as an example of who got it right – thanks to its chancellor.
Merkel, a pastor’s daughter with a doctorate in quantum chemistry, used her scientific background to shape her response, which included an early lockdown, swift mass testing, a welloiled healthcare system and clear communication from government.
“In the UK and US . . . you had these kinds of macho politicians saying, ‘This is fine, we’ll get through this’,” noted German political scientist Wolfgang Merkel.
“She’s basing her response on her knowledge of science,” said political scientist Gero Neugebauer. “And she isn’t interested in getting a good image for herself in the next election.”
’Act like you have Covid-19. Every move you then make is a risk to someone else. That is how we must all collectively think’