Human Writes: The story behind those Covid-19 numbers


A photo from March of rows of coffins with Covid-19 dead in an Italian church receiving blessings from a priest. Italy’s ageing population was hard hit by the coranavirus before the country locked down. — AFP

“How East beat West on Covid-19”. So ran the headline. I’ve seen a number of such articles hailing the triumph of Asian nations, applauding regional case numbers like World Cup football scores. Some even extolled Asian cultures, crediting Confucianism. One article lauding Malaysia quoted a Singapore academic: “Ethnic Malay cultures ... promote banding together against common threats.” Erm, really? That’s how Malaysia beat the virus?

Covid-19 is complex, so comparisons and generalisations are problematic. There’s more behind the case numbers.

Subscribe or renew your subscriptions to win prizes worth up to RM68,000!

Monthly Plan

RM13.90/month

Annual Plan

RM12.33/month

Billed as RM148.00/year

1 month

Free Trial

For new subscribers only


Cancel anytime. No ads. Auto-renewal. Unlimited access to the web and app. Personalised features. Members rewards.
Follow us on our official WhatsApp channel for breaking news alerts and key updates!

Dzof Azmi , Covid-19 , healthcare , hospitals

   

Next In Living

Heart and Soul: Climbing Mt Kilimanjaro, a journey beyond limits
RM1,530 for a coffee? Scottish farm sells Britain's most expensive cup of Joe
Glenfiddich Invites Malaysian Mavericks To Ask Themselves, ‘Where Next?’
Traditional Sabahan recipes get the spotlight at Oitom by chef Raphael Peter Lee
Sabahan pride: Malaysian chef Linn Yong champions sustainable Sabah ingredients
Meet Wanda, the machine that collects and separates trash for recycling
Hide KL takes you on a delicious modern Malaysian odyssey with its latest menu
How these US children with special needs got to 'walk on water'
Cost of convenience: Coffee pods need and waste more resources than other methods
‘Dubai chocolate’ craze hits Europe as Swiss brand serves up Middle Eastern flavours

Others Also Read