Economist Podcasts Containment or complacency? Covid-19 in Japan
Mar 30, 2020
Dominic Ziegler, The Economist's senior Asia correspondent, dives into Japan's surprising COVID-19 resurgence after their earlier success. He discusses the government's response, the impact of the postponed Olympics, and growing public concern. The conversation also touches on Uganda's political landscape as music meets activism, highlighting Bobby Wine's efforts to promote safety during the pandemic. Lastly, Ziegler reveals alarming insights into the deadly attraction of plastic for turtles, driven by their misidentification of its smell as food.
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Reasons for Initial Success
- Japan's low infection rate may be due to past epidemic experiences and hygiene habits.
- Complacency might have contributed to the recent rise in cases.
Government Complacency
- The Japanese government may have been complacent in its handling of the virus initially.
- The focus on hosting the Olympics might have contributed to downplaying the severity of the pandemic.
Olympic Postponement
- The postponement of the Olympics is a major setback for Prime Minister Abe and corporate Japan.
- It raises questions about the fate of over $3 billion in sponsorships.