"Many developing nations with hot climates & young populations have escaped the worst, suggesting that temperature & demographics could be factors. But countries like Peru, Indonesia & Brazil, tropical countries in the throes of growing epidemics, throw cold water on that idea."
"The Dominican Republic has reported nearly 7,600 cases of the virus. Just across the border, Haiti has recorded about 85.
In Indonesia, thousands are believed to have died of the coronavirus. In nearby Malaysia, a strict lockdown has kept fatalities to about 100."
In Indonesia, thousands are believed to have died of the coronavirus. In nearby Malaysia, a strict lockdown has kept fatalities to about 100."
"Draconian social-distancing and early lockdown measures have clearly been effective, but Myanmar & Cambodia did neither & have reported few cases.
One theory: maybe the virus just hasn’t gotten to those countries yet. Russia & Turkey appeared to be fine until they were not."
One theory: maybe the virus just hasn’t gotten to those countries yet. Russia & Turkey appeared to be fine until they were not."
"Even in places with abysmal record-keeping and broken health systems, mass burials or hospitals turning away sick people by the thousands would be hard to miss, and a number of places are just not seeing them — at least not yet."
"Interviews with 2 dozen infectious disease experts, health officials, epidemiologists & academics around globe suggest 4 main factors that could help explain where the virus thrives and where it doesn’t: demographics, culture, environment & the speed of government responses."
"Finally, most experts agree that there may be no single reason for some countries to be hit and others missed. The answer is likely to be some combination of the above factors, as well as one other mentioned by researchers: sheer luck." nytimes.com/2020/05/03/wor…
