How the world is coping with coronavirus this week:
Japan
The US military bases in Okinawa was already a source of tension for local residents. But a surge of new coronavirus cases at the bases, which comes after “off-base” partying during American Independence Day, highlights how little control local authorities regarding the bases. The bases are increasingly seen as “sanctuaries” from Japanese immigration law and the government’s efforts to contain COVID-19. (Japan Times)
Brazil
Based on new research, Brazilian indigenous communities along the Amazon River basin are five times as likely to have antibodies against COVID-19 than whites meaning they have been exposed to the virus. Far-right President Jair Bolsonaro who himself has tested positive for COVID-19, remains skeptical of the disease and a proponent of therapies like hydroxychloroquine that have been proven ineffective. (Democracy Now)
Cameroon
In April Archbishop Samuel Kleda of Cameroon’s Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Douala announced he had found a cure for COVID-19. He now claims he has successfully treated around 1,500 patients. The World Health Organization says there is no cure yet for the coronavirus and it “supports scientifically-proven traditional medicine.” Cameroon is one of the hardest-hit countries in sub-Saharan Africa. (Global Voices)
Rwanda
Rwandans have the world’s highest level of trust in clinics and hospitals, and place high importance on vaccinations. The country’s former health minister Agnes Binagwaho, now a professor at Harvard Medical School, says Rwanda’s success in dealing with the coronavirus comes down to a health care system focused on communities. (Fortune)
Bhutan
In spite of its location, landlocked between India and China, Bhutan has largely been a coronavirus success story. To keep the virus contained, the country has relied not only on contact tracing and prevention measures, but also on Bhutan’s strong sense of community. Among the many volunteers helping with the effort, the Bhutan Football Federation sent 20 employees to help with safety measures and quarantine protocols and to guard hospitals and any crowded areas. Dressed in orange, they’re known as de-suup, meaning ‘orange warrior.’ (FIFA and The Diplomat)
