The Intelligence from The Economist Containment or complacency? Covid-19 in Japan
Mar 30, 2020
Dominic Ziegler, senior Asia correspondent for The Economist, and Liam Taylor, who writes about Africa, discuss Japan's COVID-19 rise and its impact on the postponed Olympics. They analyze the government's responses and the economic implications of a health crisis, reflecting on public morale. Switching gears, they explore the role of Ugandan pop star Bobby Wine in political activism, using music to challenge authority and engage youth amid the pandemic. In a separate segment, they highlight the dire impact of plastic pollution on turtle populations.
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Japan's COVID-19 Situation
- Japan initially reported relatively few COVID-19 cases, leading to optimism about containment.
- However, a rise in infections, particularly in Tokyo, raised concerns about a second wave and government complacency.
Tokyo's Infection Spike
- A sudden increase in infections in Tokyo worried experts, who struggled to trace the source.
- While some infections were linked to overseas travelers and hospital clusters, the rising local transmission rate caused concern.
Factors in Japan's Initial Success
- Japan's relatively low infection rate is partly due to its experience with past epidemics like SARS.
- Cultural habits of hygiene and social conformity also played a role, but complacency became a concern.