COLUMNS

Learning How to Reopen a Country After COVID-19 Shutdowns

undefined and Stratfor Global Security Analyst at RANE
Ben West
Stratfor Global Security Analyst at RANE, Stratfor

Apr 23, 2020 | 11:00 GMT

Shoppers wearing face masks amid concerns over the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak in a market in Seoul, South Korea, on March 14, 2020.

Shoppers wearing face masks amid concerns over the COVID-19 novel coronavirus outbreak in a market in Seoul, South Korea, on March 14, 2020.

(ED JONES/AFP via Getty Images)

Highlights

  • As the economic price of lockdowns rise, governments are exploring ways to ease restrictions without exacerbating the public health crisis. 
  • Lessons on how to proceed can be gained from observing countries like Sweden and Belarus that have been relatively hands-off, and South Korea and Singapore, which have been relatively hands-on.
  • Whether the lessons of South Korea can be applied in the West, however, remains to be seen.

As governments around the world explore ways to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic, easing the economic pain caused by lockdowns without causing even more damaging public health crises, they will be looking at the experience of other early outbreak countries to guide their actions. While best practices are emerging, recovery strategies will be tailored to the vulnerabilities of specific populations, and to governments' current capabilities. Whether the lessons of South Korea can be applied in the West remains to be seen....

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