Beautiful Virgin Islands

Tuesday, Jun 03, 2025

The politics of COVID-19 Part 1

The politics of COVID-19 Part 1

OK. The evidence from Asia is that voters want their governments to suppress the COVID-19 pandemic over and above fixing broken economies.
And the latest indicators are that the west is losing the war against COVID-19 with its initial, ‘’half baked’’ approach to fighting the pandemic.

New Zealand shut down its economy at a time when there had been just 102 cases. This was a political gamble. However, it was a gamble that paid off.

The toughest restrictions lasted just a month, and despite a small flare-up of cases in August, life in New Zealand has now returned back to normal.

Quarantine is still in place at the border and people are exhorted to wash their hands and wear facemasks on public transport, but the level of formal restrictions in New Zealand is lower than in Sweden, which has followed a more laissez-faire approach.

Economically New Zealand is rebounding. Whereas visits to retail and recreational venues, are down compared to pre-pandemic levels by 28 per cent in the UK and 16 per cent in the US, they are up 4 per cent in New Zealand, according to location data from Alphabet Inc’s Google.

And after wobbling during the country’s two brief lockdowns, credit and debit card spending in retail stores is running roughly in line with last year’s pre-COVID numbers.

The argument against lockdowns has always been that they do damage; especially to people on lower incomes who are least able to make the adjustments, like working from home, that have helped white-collar workers cope.

However, the argument for lockdown and draconian efforts to fight the pandemic is that it is better to act fast with a sharp shock that is short and early.

On the other, the clear evidence is that half-measures simply prolong the crisis and give the epidemic opportunity to resurge in future. Some experts believe that had the west, especially the USA and Western Europe, acted aggressively when the pandemic first started to surface in late February 2020 by total shut down, the west would be in the position the Asia Pacific is today, with economies rebounding, and the pandemic under control.

Europeans and Americans are now facing another wave of infections: a second surge.
Newsletter

Related Articles

Beautiful Virgin Islands
0:00
0:00
Close
China Accuses US of Violating Trade Truce
Panama Port Owner Balances US-China Pressures
France Implements Nationwide Outdoor Smoking Ban to Protect Children
German Chancellor Merz Keeps Putin Guessing on Missile Strategy
Mandelson Criticizes UK's 'Fetish' for Abandoning EU Regulations
British Fishing Boat Owner Fined €30,000 by French Authorities
Dutch government falls as far-right leader Wilders quits coalition
Harvard Urges US to Unfreeze Funds for Public Health Research
Businessman Mauled by Lion at Luxury Namibian Lodge
Researchers Consider New Destinations Beyond the U.S.
53-Year-Old Doctor Claims Biological Age of 23
Trump Struggles to Secure Trade Deals With China and Europe
Russia to Return 6,000 Corpses Under Ukraine Prisoner Swap Deal
Microsoft Lays Off Hundreds More Amid Restructuring
Harvey Weinstein’s Publicist Embraces Notoriety
Macron and Meloni Seek Unity Despite Tensions
Trump Administration Accused of Obstructing Deportation Cases
Newark Mayor Sues Over Arrest at Immigration Facility
Center-Left Candidate Projected to Win South Korean Presidency
Trump’s Tariffs Predicted to Stall Global Economic Growth
South Korea’s President-Elect Expected to Take Softer Line on Trump and North Korea
Trump’s China Strategy Remains a Geopolitical Puzzle
Ukraine Executes Long-Range Drone Strikes on Russian Airbases
Conservative Karol Nawrocki wins Poland’s presidential election
Study Identifies Potential Radicalization Risk Among Over One Million Muslims in Germany
Good news: Annalena Baerbock Elected President of the UN General Assembly
Apple Appeals EU Law Over User Data Sharing Requirements
South Africa: "First Black Bank" Collapses after Being Looted by Owners
Poland will now withdraw from the EU migration pact after pro-Trump nationalist wins Election
"That's Disgusting, Don’t Say It Again": The Trump Joke That Made the President Boil
Trump Cancels NASA Nominee Over Democratic Donations
Paris Saint-Germain's Greatest Triumph Is Football’s Lowest Point
OnlyFans for Sale: From Lockdown Lifeline to Eight-Billion-Dollar Empire
Mayor’s Security Officer Implicated | Shocking New Details Emerge in NYC Kidnapping Case
Hegseth Warns of Potential Chinese Military Action Against Taiwan
OPEC+ Agrees to Increase Oil Output for Third Consecutive Month
Jamie Dimon Warns U.S. Bond Market Faces Pressure from Rising Debt
Turkey Detains Istanbul Officials Amid Anti-Corruption Crackdown
Taylor Swift Gains Ownership of Her First Six Albums
Bangkok Ranked World's Top City for Remote Work in 2025
Satirical Sketch Sparks Political Spouse Feud in South Korea
Indonesia Quarry Collapse Leaves Multiple Dead and Missing
South Korean Election Video Pulled Amid Misogyny Outcry
Asian Economies Shift Away from US Dollar Amid Trade Tensions
Netflix Investigates Allegations of On-Set Mistreatment in K-Drama Production
US Defence Chief Reaffirms Strong Ties with Singapore Amid Regional Tensions
Vietnam Faces Strategic Dilemma Over China's Mekong River Projects
Malaysia's First AI Preacher Sparks Debate on Islamic Principles
White House Press Secretary Criticizes Harvard Funding, Advocates for Vocational Training
France to Implement Nationwide Smoking Ban in Outdoor Spaces Frequented by Children
×