Virus

​ARGUMENT

How Slovakia Flattened the Curve

Without an intelligent quarantine in place, public trust and the media have been crucial to the country’s success.


BY MIROSLAV BEBLAVY | MAY 6, 2020, 6:11 PM


The European country that has recorded the lowest number of deaths per capita from the coronavirus is neither restriction-easing Germany nor lockdown-averse Sweden but Slovakia—the Central European country of just 5.4 million people. As of May 6, Slovakia had confirmed 1,429 cases and 25 deaths from COVID-19. If New York City had the same per capita mortality rate from the virus, it would have 40 victims rather than 19,000.

How has Slovakia successfully contained the coronavirus so far? First, let’s dispel the misconceptions. Slovakia hasn’t fared well against the coronavirus because of its isolation. On the contrary, it is very interconnected. Hundreds of thousands of Slovaks work elsewhere in Europe—as daily commuters, seasonal workers, or long-term migrants. For example, more than 20,000 Slovaks commute daily as caregivers for older adults in neighboring Austria, which had a major outbreak. Slovakia’s young people are also more likely to study abroad than those in any other European Union country. According to mobile phone data, about 50,000 Slovaks traveled to coronavirus-stricken northern Italy during the second half of February and early March, but Slovakia didn’t experience its own significant outbreak after they returned.

Nor can Slovakia’s low mortality rate be credited to the quality of its public institutions. Though it is an EU member, Slovakia did not score highly in the 2019 Global Health Security Index, which assesses countries’ capacity to respond to pandemics or similar threats. It ranked 70th in its ability to detect a health security threat and 105th in its ability to respond to such a challenge. By comparison, Germany ranked 10th for detection and 28th for response.

Over the last six weeks, the public has observed what this means in practice. At the beginning of the pandemic, the Slovak public health authorities had limited stocks of personal protective equipment and diagnostic test kits. They also had only a few teams ready to implement testing and contact tracing, though the teams were composed of seasoned civil servants working for the Slovak version of the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Even now, Slovakia has no mobile tracking app or intelligent quarantine system in place. Among other successful countries, Taiwan had such a system ready even before the pandemic began, and the Czech Republic—initially caught unprepared—put one in place at the end of March. Still, outbreaks appear to be limited primarily to three groups: poor members of the Romani minority living in rural slums, likely spread by individuals returning from the United Kingdom; older adults living in care facilities; and returning migrants and their families. The authorities’ response came quickly—but only after the outbreaks emerged.

Then why isn’t Slovakia overrun by the coronavirus? Experts that I spoke to credit three main factors. The most important was the government’s quick decision to institute a national lockdown effective March 16, 10 days after the country confirmed its first coronavirus case. The lockdown included the closure of all schools, restaurants, bars, and shops except for grocery stores, pharmacies, and banks—as well as a ban on all public events and gatherings. The country also secluded itself by closing all airports and implementing mandatory quarantine for citizens returning from abroad. But unlike in some other countries, physical movement of individuals remained largely unrestricted.

The lockdown measures have only worked because of the second factor: an immediate and universal compliance by the Slovak population. People did what they were told, even though Slovakia is generally plagued by low levels of trust in politicians and the government, according to the European Values Study. Slovaks acted voluntarily without the need for large-scale coercive enforcement. The response by the country’s political elites surely contributed to this compliance. Though Slovakia saw partisan conflict over who was responsible for the lack of preparation, there was no disagreement about the seriousness of the threat or the need for the lockdown itself—unlike in the United States, where federal and state authorities have clashed.

This is where the third factor comes in. More than the functioning of public institutions, experts credit the media as crucial to Slovakia’s success. The universal use of face masks—instituted early despite the dismissive attitude of the World Health Organization—has become a symbol of Slovakia’s response to the coronavirus. A pivotal moment came on March 13, when the anchor of the country’s most popular television program, Zlatica Puskarova, hosted incoming Prime Minister Igor Matovic and his health minister. Puskarova began by asking the government officials why they didn’t lead by example, handing them two face masks. They complied immediately, and from the next day the whole country started making and wearing face protection. Since then, no Slovak politician, news reporter, or celebrity would be seen in public without a mask.

The mainstream media was careful not to denigrate the need to strictly observe the lockdown.

The coronavirus crisis has also increased readership of the more serious media outlets. Fringe and conspiracy sites focused on health issues, usually very popular in Slovakia, ignored the virus altogether for several weeks. This allowed the mainstream media to dominate public discourse. Even when criticizing specific government actions—such as a mismanaged travel ban during the Easter holiday—the mainstream media was careful not to denigrate the need to strictly observe the lockdown.

Slovakia’s TV stations, newspapers, and news websites are a diverse but fragmented bunch operating in a small market. They lack the financial clout or resources of outlets in larger countries. Despite that, many outlets have been able to attract committed and bright reporters motivated by the public interest. The media has played an outsized role in the coronavirus crisis: not just by holding the government accountable but also by quickly disseminating new social norms.

The Slovak government began easing its lockdown measures on April 22, and since the number of new daily infections has remained in the single digits, the authorities opened most shops, restaurants, and hotels on May 6. The situation is far from normal—schools remain closed, and restaurants and bars can only serve patrons outdoors—but Slovaks have celebrated their ability to finally get a haircut by posting selfies of their new coiffures on social media.

While early and decisive action by governments is crucial in fighting the coronavirus, the case of Slovakia shows that media and civil society can compensate for the weakness of public health institutions by forging a consensus to observe the necessary social norms.

Miroslav Beblavy is a former member of the Slovak parliament and a former senior research fellow at the Centre for European Policy Studies in Brussels.

OD 18. JUNA UKOLIKO BROJ OBOLELIH POČNE DA SKAČE

KURIR SAZNAJE! NOVE MERE VLADE SRBIJE: Ko ne nosi masku, skupo će da plati! Kazna od 20.000 do 150.000!

DRUŠTVO
14.05.2020. 12:44h

Kazne se odnose za nepoštovanje svih mera zaštite koje je propisala Vlada Srbije

BEOGRAD - Vlada Srbije propisala je niz mera zaštite u borbi protiv virusa korona, a ko ih ne bude poštovao može biti kažnjen veoma visokim novčanim kaznama.

Pre svega, mere zaštite - maske, rukavice, fizička distanca, obavezne su u javnom prevozu i zatvorenim prostorima, ali i u baštama kafića i restorana ukoliko je na tom mestu zajedno više od dvoje ljudi. Onaj ko se bude uporno inatio i odbijao masku i druge mere zaštite čeka ga penal i do 150.000!

Naime, Zakon o zaštiti stanovništva od zaraznih bolesti predviđa da vlada može uvesti rigoroznije mere kako bi se obuzdala epidemija koronavirusa ukoliko ponovo bukne. Stoga, svi naši građani koji ne budu nosili zaštitne maske rizikuju da plate kaznu od 20.000 dinara ukoliko se obistine strahovi epidemiologa i broj zaraženih koronavirusom počne naglo da raste od 18. maja!

Obavezno nošenje maski kao jedna od mera podrazumevaće da se one nose na svim javnim mestima - tržnim centrima, javnom prevozu, ali i u kafićima i restoranima. Pojačane epidemiološke mere važile bi i za bašte ugostiteljskih objekata kada je zajedno za jednim stolom više od dvoje ljudi, ali i za sve političke i druge skupove na koji dolazi veliki broj ljudi.

Rapid coronavirus test used by White House misses nearly half of positive cases: study https://t.co/A6LRJW9uhY pic.twitter.com/qKmITsNAU3

— The Hill (@thehill) May 14, 2020

Mór Thököly wrote:Ne znam za Turke, za Slovake prosto znam.

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

Spoiler:

NAJTUŽNIJA SRPSKA PRIČA TOKOM PANDEMIJE KORONA VIRUSA
Virus mi je pokosio čitavu porodicu

N. Marić
12.05.2020. 07:00

Ljubiša Rakić iz paraćinskog naselja Jagodnjak za mesec dana izgubio je oca, majku i sestru. Sve troje Rakića preminulo je od posledica koronavirusa.

Prvi je bitku sa koronavirusom izgubio Ljubišin otac Dragan (70), samo nekoliko dana nakon njega umrla je i Ljubišina majka Radmila (72), a pred dva dana bitku sa smrtonosnom zarazom izgubio je treći član porodice, sestra Ljiljana (47).

Ljubiša (43), jedini preostali član porodice Rakić, za „Alo!“ navodi da ga je smrt sestre, koja je životnu bitku izgubila u KBC „Zemun“, potpuno dotukla.

Ljubiša ističe da je njegova sudbina dokaz da nesreća nikada ne ide sama jer ga je tragedija zadesila u periodu kada je ostao bez posla.

- Sahrana obolelog od koronavirusa košta 110.000 dinara! Samo jedan dan u kapeli je 17.500 dinara! Da nije bilo ujaka i zeta od sestre od ujaka, ne znam kako bih izmiro sve troškove - kaže Ljubiša.

- Korona je bila jača od mojih molitvi. Jadnica je skinuta sa respiratora prošle nedelje, borila se kao lav četiri nedelje, međutim, njeno telo ipak nije moglo da izdrži. Život joj se ugasio, a da nije ni saznala da su mama i tata preminuli. Ostao sam siroče, korona mi je uzela apsolutno sve - kaže Ljubiša.

Jedini Rakić kojeg je koronavirusa zaobišao jedva je smogao snage da juče sahrani sestru. Iako je bila omiljena među kolegama, nažalost, na večni počinak ispratili su je samo brat i nekoliko članova uže familije.

- Bila je vrstan hemijski inženjer i vredan radnik. Nažalost, bolovala je od dijabetesa tipa dva, a korona ju je dotukla. Nije imala dece, a ljubav i pozitivnu energiju pružala je svima. Ne znam kako ću dalje - kaže Ljubiša.

Naš sagovornik ističe da sa njegov otac Dragan (70) najverovatnije koronavirusom zarazio u paraćinskoj bolnici na dijalizi, nakon što je otišao da mu zamene kateter.

- Paraćin je jedno vreme bio žarište koronavirusa. Moja majka se zarazila nakon što se otac vratio iz bolnice. Njoj je pre pet godina uklonjen karcinom, a korona ju je dotukla - zaključuje Ljubiša.

Ljubiša Rakić za „Alo!“ ističe da je zgrožen ponašanjem pojedinaca koji ne poštuju mere nakon što je ukinuto vanredno stanje.

- Apelujem na sve građane da se ne igraju sa sudbinom! Koronavirus mi je uništio život, on i dalje hara, iako ljudi još uvek ne shvataju ozbiljno situaciju - kaže Ljubiša.

Janko Suvar wrote:
picketine su Slovaci, istina.

rumbeando wrote:

OD 18. JUNA UKOLIKO BROJ OBOLELIH POČNE DA SKAČE

KURIR SAZNAJE! NOVE MERE VLADE SRBIJE: Ko ne nosi masku, skupo će da plati! Kazna od 20.000 do 150.000!

DRUŠTVO
14.05.2020. 12:44h

Kazne se odnose za nepoštovanje svih mera zaštite koje je propisala Vlada Srbije

BEOGRAD - Vlada Srbije propisala je niz mera zaštite u borbi protiv virusa korona, a ko ih ne bude poštovao može biti kažnjen veoma visokim novčanim kaznama.

Pre svega, mere zaštite - maske, rukavice, fizička distanca, obavezne su u javnom prevozu i zatvorenim prostorima, ali i u baštama kafića i restorana ukoliko je na tom mestu zajedno više od dvoje ljudi. Onaj ko se bude uporno inatio i odbijao masku i druge mere zaštite čeka ga penal i do 150.000!

Naime, Zakon o zaštiti stanovništva od zaraznih bolesti predviđa da vlada može uvesti rigoroznije mere kako bi se obuzdala epidemija koronavirusa ukoliko ponovo bukne. Stoga, svi naši građani koji ne budu nosili zaštitne maske rizikuju da plate kaznu od 20.000 dinara ukoliko se obistine strahovi epidemiologa i broj zaraženih koronavirusom počne naglo da raste od 18. maja!

Obavezno nošenje maski kao jedna od mera podrazumevaće da se one nose na svim javnim mestima - tržnim centrima, javnom prevozu, ali i u kafićima i restoranima. Pojačane epidemiološke mere važile bi i za bašte ugostiteljskih objekata kada je zajedno za jednim stolom više od dvoje ljudi, ali i za sve političke i druge skupove na koji dolazi veliki broj ljudi.

kurir.rs/vesti/drustvo/3464089/kurir-saznaje-nove-mere-vlade-srbije-ko-ne-nosi-masku-skupo-ce-da-plati-kazna-od-20000-do-150000

Mislim da je ovo gotovo izvesno s obzirom na SNS-ov spot i na činjenicu da teško mogu da drže broj zaraženih pod kakvom-takvom kontrolom do izbora ako to ne uvedu.

rumbeando wrote:

Halászlé wrote:Turci baš ne spadaju u poslušne narode, ali, koliko čitam od Redorana, rade šta im se kaže, jer je vlast, kao i u Slovačkoj, znala šta da im kaže. Mislim da je jedan od najvažnijih faktora - koherencija poruke koja stiže od centralnih vlasti. Ova situacija uopšte ne trpi konfliktne poruke, što se kod nas vrlo jasno vidi. Mere distanciranja su prestale da budu moralni imperativ, pošto su građani, umesto da čuju jasne poruke o pravcu delovanja, gledale operetski sukob između dve dvorske lude koje ću nazvati Smeško i Gumeni Posluško.

https://www.msn.com/en-gb/news/coronavirus/exclusive-second-more-deadly-wave-of-coronavirus-to-hit-europe-this-winter/ar-BB144GYy?ocid=msedgntp

Exclusive: Second more deadly wave of coronavirus 'to hit Europe this winter'

European countries should brace themselves for a deadly second wave of coronavirus infections because the pandemic is not over, the World Health Organisation’s top official in Europe has said.

In an exclusive interview with The Telegraph, Dr Hans Kluge, director for the WHO European region, delivered a stark warning to countries beginning to ease their lockdown restrictions, saying that now is the "time for preparation, not celebration".

Dr Kluge stressed that, as the number of cases of Covid-19  in countries such as the UK, France and Italy was beginning to fall, it did not mean the pandemic was coming to an end. The epicentre of the European outbreak is now in the east, with the number of cases rising in Russia, Ukraine, Belarus and Kazakhstan, he warned.

Countries should use this time wisely and start to strengthen public health systems as well as building capacity in hospitals, primary care and intensive care units, he said.

"Singapore and Japan understood early on that this is not a time for celebration, it's a time for preparation. That's what Scandinavian countries are doing – they don't exclude a second wave, but they hope it will be localised and they can jump on it quickly,” said Dr Kluge.

He also warned that a second wave could coincide with an outbreak of other infectious diseases.

“I’m very concerned about a double wave – in the fall, we could have a second wave of Covid and another one of seasonal flu or measles. Two years ago we had 500,000 children who didn't have their first shot of the measles vaccine," he said.

Many experts, including England's chief medical officer, Professor Chris Whitty, have warned that a second wave of the pandemic could be even deadlier than the first, pointing to the 1918-20 Spanish flu pandemic as evidence.

When the Spanish flu first emerged in March 1918, it had the hallmarks of the typical seasonal illness – but it then came back in an even more virulent and deadly form in the autumn, eventually killing an estimated 50 million people.

Troop movements at the end of the First World War are thought to have accelerated the spread of the disease, which also had a third and fourth wave although these were not as devastating.

"We know from history that in pandemics the countries that have not been hit early on can be hit in a second wave," said Dr Kluge. "What are we going to see in Africa and Eastern Europe? They're behind the curve – some countries are saying: 'We're not like Italy' and then, two weeks later, boom! They can unfortunately get hit by a second wave, so we have to be very very careful."

In the last couple of weeks, many European countries have started unlocking their shuttered economies and allowing some resumption of normal life.

Earlier this month, the Spanish population was allowed to exercise outside for the first time in seven weeks, and restaurants in some areas of Germany have reopened. In France, people will no longer need travel permits to explain why they have left home.

But in the absence of an effective treatment for the virus, or a vaccine, Dr Kluge said any lockdown had to be accompanied by rigorous public health measures including comprehensive contact tracing and testing.

A pilot NHS contact tracing app was launched on the Isle of Wight last week, with the Government saying it would be rolled out to the rest of the country by the end of the month if it proves successful.

The number of tests being carried out has been growing slowly but is still not at the 100,000-a day-level promised by Matt Hancock, the Health Secretary. Analysis by the Telegraph shows that around 80,000 tests a day are being carried out.

Dr Kluge said the lack of a treatment or vaccine meant any easing of lockdown restrictions had to be done "gradually and carefully", adding: "People think lockdown is finished. Nothing has changed. The full disease control package has to be in place. That's the key message."

He said that he hoped the pandemic had shown that health should now be at the top of the political agenda.

"We always thought that health was the driver of economic prosperity, but it's worse – where there's no health, there’s no economy," he added. "This is a lesson that cannot be forgotten.

"Public health deserves its place at the top of the agenda. And sometimes when a leader has suffered personally, it helps," he added.  

Coronavirus

WHO’s chief scientist offers bleak assessment of challenges ahead

It will be ‘four or five years’ before Covid-19 is under control, FT’s digital conference told

It will be four or five years before Covid-19 is under control, the World Health Organization’s chief scientist predicted on Wednesday, in a bleak assessment of the difficulties that lie ahead.

Many factors will determine how long and to what extent the virus remains a threat, including whether it mutates, what containment measures are put in place and whether an effective vaccine is developed, Soumya Swaminathan told the FT’s Global Boardroom digital conference.

“I would say in a four to five-year timeframe we could be looking at controlling this,” she said, adding there was “no crystal ball” and the pandemic could “potentially get worse”.

A vaccine “seems for now the best way out”, but there were “lots of ifs and buts” about its efficacy and safety, as well as its production and equitable distribution, she said. A vaccine could also stop working if the virus changed, she added.
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