What are the locations the place individuals are inclined to voluntarily adhere to cultural norms?
1. Japan
2. Nordic international locations
3. Utah, Vermont
What are some locations the place Covid demise charges have been suspiciously low:
1. Japan
2. Nordic international locations
3. Utah, Vermont
By “surprisingly low” I imply low relative to authorities coverage response and age distribution. (Sure, Utah’s price was low even adjusted for its younger common age). The demise price in China was even decrease, however that is no huge deal given their draconian zero Covid coverage. Australia and New Zealand additionally had zero Covid (pre-vaccine) insurance policies, enforced by journey limits. I’m involved in locations the place there isn’t any apparent regulatory rationalization.
I lately took a prepare from Dresden to Prague. In Germany, a really excessive share of individuals on subways and trams wore masks. In Prague, hardly anybody wears a masks. Curiously, Germany’s cumulative Covid demise price is lower than half that of Czechia (which has a youthful inhabitants than Germany.) It is clearly not all due to the masks, however displays in a lot of the variations in willingness to voluntarily adhere to varied cultural norms on issues like masks, social distancing vaccination, and so forth. One other comparability is Austria (the place individuals put on masks on the metro) and Hungary (the place they do not). Covid demise price is greater than twice that of Austria
BTW, I am not saying sporting a masks makes a lot sense at the moment – I hardly ever put on them – simply that it as soon as made sense.
PS. Sweden’s demise price was low by international requirements, however excessive by Nordic requirements. This corresponds to the truth that the Swedish authorities has not inspired social distancing as a lot as its neighbors.
SPP. There’s nonetheless one other scientific research suggesting that the masks are very efficient, though these research aren’t very exact.
PPPS. On a latest prepare journey, my spouse wore a masks, not like me. It was I who fell unwell a day later. (Only a chilly, not Covid.)