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Coronavirus: lockdowns are not the reason Hong Kong and South Korea are beating Covid-19. Model citizens might be
- Hong Kong and South Korea are leading the way in the fight against the coronavirus – despite neither place having implemented a lockdown
- Experts say it is no coincidence that citizens in both places took a proactive approach to defending themselves, rather than waiting for official guidance
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Three months after reporting their first cases of the novel coronavirus, Hong Kong and South Korea are showing societies throughout the world that there is light at the end of the coronavirus tunnel.
Hong Kong on Monday reported no new coronavirus infections for the first time in nearly two months, while South Korea announced on Sunday it had hit a two-month low of just eight additional infections.
In both cases there have been suggestions the achievements, if sustained, could lead to an easing of social restrictions. Seoul has said that while its social distancing campaign will remain in place until May 5 it will begin easing limits on sports facilities and public gatherings including church services.
Meanwhile, a study by the University of Hong Kong that found the Chinese city’s mix of restrictions was enough to slow the spread of the virus without a lockdown has prompted some experts to suggest some restrictions here, too, could soon be lifted.
By Monday Hong Kong had seen 1,023 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and four deaths since its first infection was reported on January 23. The totals for South Korea, which reported 13 new cases on Monday, stood at 10,647 confirmed cases and 236 deaths.
The turnaround in fortunes is remarkable not only because at the beginning of the outbreak both governments had faced severe criticisms over their handling of the crisis, but because both appear to have turned the tide without resorting to the sort of severe lockdowns seen elsewhere across the globe.
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