Seite - 517 - in VULNERABLE - The Law, Policy and Ethics of COVID-19

517“Flattening the Curve” Through COVID-19 Contagion Containment its borders. These terms are often used differently in various contexts, even changing over time. But most others have been slow, often lacking resolve, perhaps hoping that the virus would bypass them or that “herd immunity” would protect most of the populations exposed to the virus. A few headstrong, but very influential government leaders simply refused to acknowledge the severity of the COVID-19 threat, subsequently distracting many with conspiracy theories instead of quickly learning from and correcting the policy errors that had been made. Thus, new infections and deaths quickly rose exponentially as the virus rapidly spread to other countries, especially to advanced coun- tries in the West, better connected by passenger air travel. As devel- oping countries struggled with the lack of vitally needed resources, many developed countries have been jingoistic by restricting exports of vital medical supplies, in contravention of the International Health Regulations (IHR) and WHO recommendations. Understanding the COVID-19 Crisis The COVID-19 pandemic is now widely considered more threatening than other viral epidemics in recent decades, since the Asian flu of the late 1950s and the Hong Kong flu of 1968. Although the fatality rate of those infected may be lower than for SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) in 2002–2003,6 and COVID-19 may not be more infectious than the H1N1 virus, its particular combination of transmissibility and mortality risks has generated unprecedented fear and apprehension. SARS, by contrast, was more deadly, going deeper into the lungs, but less infectious than COVID-19, despite having similar symptoms. The virus is considered especially dangerous as infection, via mucous in the mouth, nose, and eyes, starts in the upper respiratory tract (throat, upper airways). Those infected are also infectious very soon after being infected, when they are still asymptomatic. They may still remain without symptoms or only have mild symptoms when 6. According to the WHO, a total of 8,098 people in 26 countries had SARS; 774 died between November 2002 and July 2003, i.e., a death rate of 9.6%, whereas the COVID-19 death rate was 3.6% when it was declared a pandemic. Matt Woodley, “How Does Coronavirus Compare with Previous Global Outbreaks?” (19 February 2020), online: The  Royal  Australian  College  of  General  Practitioners <https:// www1.racgp.org.au/newsgp/clinical/how-does-coronavirus-compare-with- previous-global>.