Page - 525 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

525“Flattening the Curve” Through COVID-19 Contagion Containment South Korea22 Like China, South Korea recovered rapidly from having the second highest rate of infection globally. The country is one of several, mainly East Asian, economies that have dramatically reduced or kept low the number of COVID-19 cases and related deaths without resorting to draconian lockdowns. It has thus slowed the spread of COVID-19, even in Daegu, its most infected city. The Korean authorities continue to urge physical distancing and personal hygiene. Mass gatherings are discouraged, and employers are encouraged to allow employees to work remotely. Mass testing has been key, with South Korea doing more COVID- 19 tests by country until April. Much of East Asia built up its testing capabilities following earlier epidemics in recent decades, and their authorities were thus prepared with test kits and facilities for rapid development, approval, and deployment. In South Korea, the tests have been free for those whom medical professionals recommend for testing. Others who wish to be tested are charged about US$130, but reimbursed if the result is positive, with treatment needed paid for by the government. Another legacy of earlier epidemic experiences is governmen- tal legal authority to collect data from those who test positive for con- tact tracing efforts. Artificial intelligence and big data have also been deployed for contact tracing. Such pro-active testing and contact trac- ing have been lauded by the WHO, which is encouraging other coun- tries to apply lessons learned in East Asia. Kerala23 The first COVID-19 case in India was detected in the southwestern Indian state of Kerala on January 30, 2020. But with precautionary measures in place even before that, with a population of 35 million, Kerala has become “a model state in the fight against COVID-19.” The state health department went into action early, setting up a coordi- nation centre on January 26 to identify, test, isolate, and treat those 22. Nazihah Muhamad Noor & Jomo Kwame Sundaram, “East Asian Lessons for Controlling Covid-19”, Inter Press Service (26 March 2020), online: <https://www. ipsnews.net/2020/03/east-asian-lessons-controlling-covid-19/>. 23. Anis Chowdhury & Jomo Kwame Sundaram, “Kerala Covid-19 Response Model for Emulation”, Inter Press Service (9 April 2020), online: <https://www.ipsnews. net/2020/04/kerala-covid-19-response-model-emulation/>.