A Coronavirus quiz (part I)

I spend (too much) time sniping at social media friends who post or share thoughts such as ‘why doesn’t the President just do something’ or ‘why can’t we be like country X?’ I generally respond with hard questions like “what specifically do you want him to do?” or “what do you think that country X is doing that we can/should emulate?”

To test your knowledge (and to kill some time) of who-is-doing-what in the world of coronavirus policy, here is a sampling of national approaches. Your task is to guess which country I’m describing in each case. I’ll describe them in some detail, but I can’t give all the data in every case, or else it would be too easy. And no, the answers aren’t at the bottom of the post; I wouldn’t want to put any of my friends in the near occasion of the sin of cheating! Part II will contain the answers, and some commentary. If you’re really bored or bold, put your answers (questions? comments!) in the comments section.

Here goes (the use of terms country/state/nation and the letter are NOT clues):

Country A was the among the earliest to announce a travel ban on China, pending the arrival of tourists for the busy Chinese New Year celebration, and later enacted a total ban on immigration. It has only managed to ramp up to 50,000 tests a day, yet its case fatality rate (hereafter CFR) hovers near one percent, and it is starting to relax restrictions on outdoor activities. Country A?

Nation B was among the first to ramp up viral test production, but has never completed more than 25,000 daily viral tests. It eschewed a national lockdown, and businesses and public spaces remain open. Instead, it deployed strict quarantines of areas where it detected an outbreak in progress. It also deployed a series of apps for contact tracing, and made failing to carry cell phones with these apps a crime punishable by several thousand dollar fines. Nation B?

State C initially acted like the virus was “under control.” Eventually its leadership decided they had a problem on their hands and ramped up testing from nothing to hundreds of thousands daily. Its largest city is also its pandemic epicenter, and the national government is continuing to argue with state and local officials about responsibility for stringent quarantine measures. It hasn’t flattened the curve, yet, but is considering how to relax restrictions in light of the May holiday season. State C?

Country D is still open for business, although without large gatherings. It has experienced several surges in cases and deaths, but its medical system has not been overwhelmed. It believes its relaxed rules and emphasis on social distancing is far more sustainable for the months-to-years before a vaccine is developed, and that its CFR–now higher–will eventually be the same as its neighbors who have shut their economies down. Country D?

Nation E was the first to warn against Chinese claims on the coronavirus. It enacted strict border controls, then tightened them. Its fines for violating quarantine or contact tracing rules continue to rise (above $10,000 US). It investigates and enforces fraudulent news coverage (such as a claimed toilet paper shortage) to the tune of US $100,000 fines. It emphasized ramping up mask production, then decreed controls on sales to ensure everyone has and wears them. It has practically eradicated the disease. Nation E?

State F started out slowly, hoping to achieve herd immunity by simply protecting vulnerable populations and relying on its universal health service. As cases and deaths mounted, it engaged in a full reverse, enacting a lockdown and ramping up testing. It seems to have weathered the worst, but still has the second highest number of daily deaths. State F?

Country G was one of the world leaders in responding to the coronavirus. It enacted early and effective social distancing, restricted immigration, provided free health services, mass testing, and contact tracing. Its government is unusually effective and efficient, yet it suddenly finds itself with a spike in new cases and the most in its region. Country G?

Nation H is trying a little bit of everything. It has apparently past the peak in new cases and deaths, but the spread is uneven: urban areas were hard hit, while other regions not so much (yet). Some areas are reopening, while others still fear having overrun medical facilities. Testing is on the rise, but the public’s willingness to maintain strict lockdown conditions is waning. Nation H?

State I enacted the first and most extensive lockdown in the Western world. Its higher CFR appears to be due to a perfect storm of older victims, inadequate emergency facilities, and the bad luck to being one of the first places hit hardest. Still, it has turned the corner on cases and deaths and is preparing to loosen restrictions. State I?

Country J has the most cases and deaths in its region. Its leader has encouraged public protests against state lockdowns, and engages in a running public debate with the press and medical officials. That leader still says coronavirus is no worse “than the flu” and refuses to wear a facemask. County J?

Nation K was initially hard hit, but enforced a tight regional lockdown and now has no deaths, officially. It fears a recurrence due to foreign visitors, which it is tightly controlling, and questions the account that the virus originated in China. Nation K?

State L’s leaders insist they are fully prepared in terms of tests, ventilators, and hospital beds due to a national health system. However, their case count and deaths continue to rise, and hospital workers have been especially hard hit. The largest city is the pandemic epicenter, but their leader has only recently and reluctantly given up his well-attended political rallies. State L?

Country M is a world leader in testing per capita and total tests. It is in the top five for total numbers of cases, but has the best CFR among them. It attributes its success to younger initial victims, more testing, and well-resourced emergency rooms. The national lockdown is strongly supported, but more than a thousand protestors gathered in the capital last week. Country M?

Nation N has an older, more densely situated population, making it very vulnerable. But it is also known for high technology and cultural compliance, so its early low infection and death rates seemed to indicate success at limiting movement and using contact tracing. But it wasn’t testing very much, and now its daily deaths are increasing, causing its leaders to fear they missed an opportunity to avoid a tragedy. Nation N?

State O was late to the game but acted boldly, enacting a nationwide shutdown, which immediately backfired as millions of poor migrants began walking hundreds of miles to return home from the cities where they worked. The government fears that official data hides the magnitude of the crisis, and is preparing to blame a religious minority if a catastrophe ensues. State O?

There you have it: fifteen examples. Choose some or do them all (what else do you have to do?)! There are some tricky ones, and a few red herrings thrown in. Answers in the next post.