How the world is coping with coronavirus this week:
South Korea
COVID-19 arrived in South Korea and the US at roughly the same time. Yet, while US fatalities approach 130,000, South Korea has kept its death toll under 300—a stunning accomplishment. To understand how they’ve done it, read the latest from our South Korea print guide.
Mexico
Sonoyta sits right on the US-Mexico border, and residents have worried about travelers from the US coming in from Arizona, one of the worst-hit states for coronavirus infections. Sonoran officials implemented filters to prevent tourists from crossing over, and when an exception was made for travelers heading to the beach town of Rocky Point, protestors from Sonoyta soon came en masse. (Arizona Public Media)
Ecuador
After Ecuador shut its borders to tourists to combat the coronavirus pandemic in March, wildlife in the Galapagos Islands bloomed away from the eyes of visitors. Now, the islands are reopening in the coming weeks. While Ecuador was one of the worst-hit South American countries with COVID-19, with more than 62,000 cases and almost 5,000 deaths, only two deaths have been reported on the Galapagos Islands. (Telegraph)
Oman
Health officials in the Gulf state of Oman are launching a 10-week nationwide survey to analyze the spread of the coronavirus, including taking blood samples to detect antibodies. This comes in the wake of a surge in infections in the country of 4.7 million people. The current number of COVID-19 cases is in excess of 50,000. (Daily Star, Lebanon)
Australia
Melbourne, Australia, has returned to lockdown status and police have created a “ring of steel” around the city to check people going in or out in an effort to control a worrying spike in coronavirus cases. The Premier of the state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, said the lockdown may extend beyond six weeks if conditions don’t approve. (The Age)
