COVID started earlier in the EU. Deaths climbed at same rate initially. Since May, however, the EU has done well while we have gone our own separate way.
At present, there are only 2 of 27 countries in the EU with higher deaths per million compared to us: Belgium and Spain. In both places the pandemic struck early, without much warning. We are heading in a trajectory that will catch up to Spain.
When we compare ourselves to countries in Eastern Europe, or Germany, our plight becomes clearer.
We would have 80% fewer deaths if we had done as well as Germany, Austria, or Denmark. 90% fewer deaths if we had done as well as Eastern Europe.
What did these countries do that we didn’t? It varies by country. But every country had some unified national strategy. We didn’t.
I listed how we could have done better. These are also some of the strategies used effectively in countries that managed to contain COVID. The emphasis varied in each country. Some were lucky to implement border control quickly. Some did it with masks, testing, tracing.
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