COVID-19 in Germany and China: mitigation versus elimination strategy

Abstract

Background : The COVID-19 pandemic shows variable dynamics in WHO Regions, with lowest disease burden in the Western-Pacific Region. While China has been able to rapidly eliminate transmission of SARS-CoV-2, Germany – as well as most of Europe and the Americas – is struggling with high numbers of cases and deaths. Objective : We analyse COVID-19 epidemiology and control strategies in China and in Germany, two countries which have chosen profoundly different approaches to deal with the epidemic. Methods : In this narrative review, we searched the literature from 1 December 2019, to 4 December 2020. Results : China and several neighbours (e.g. Australia, Japan, South Korea, New Zealand, Thailand) have achieved COVID-19 elimination or sustained low case numbers. This can be attributed to: (1) experience with previous coronavirus outbreaks; (2) classification of SARS-CoV-2 in the highest risk category and consequent early employment of aggressive control measures; (3) mandatory isolation of cases and contacts in institutions; (4) broad employment of modern contact tracking technology; (5) travel restrictions to prevent SARS-CoV-2 re-importation; (6) cohesive communities with varying levels of social control. Conclusions : Early implementation of intense and sustained control measures is key to achieving a near normal social and economic life.

Effects of non-pharmaceutical interventions against COVID-19 on the incidence of other diseases

“…face masking, physical distancing, restrictions of movement and social gatherings). They were combined with testing, contact tracing and isolation/quarantine interventions as well as repeated lockdowns with varying intensity and resolve [1] , [2] , [3] , [4] .…”

Riding the waves of the COVID-19 pandemic in South Korea

“…South Korea has since lost the initiative in battling the pandemic, but it is still relatively successful in terms of its low number of infections and fatalities. 14 It is not too late for the country to implement sweeping measures to effectively stop the spread of the disease. Hopes for prevention through vaccination seem too far ahead, as even though South Korea secured enough vaccine for its population, only 1% of the population is fully vaccinated at the start of May 2021 and recent vaccine shortages are slowing down vaccination efforts.…”

Combating the COVID-19 Pandemic: Experiences of the First Wave From Nepal

“…The WHO declared Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID- 19) as a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC) on January 30, 2020, and a pandemic on March 11, 2020 (2). As a result, countries worldwide adopted various mitigative measures (3,4) and eradication strategies (5), aiming to reduce potentially enormous damage and reach zero cases, respectively. However, significant gaps in advance preparedness and the implementation of response plans resulted in the rapid spread of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) globally with 219 nations reporting it as of January 22, 2021 1 (6).…”

“…Two months after the first case, the second case was diagnosed through domestic testing on March 23 in a returnee from France (7). Subsequently, the Government of Nepal (GoN) imposed early interventions approved by the WHO, including a travel ban and the Indo-Nepal and China-Nepal borders closure 5 (8) to delay the possible onset of the detrimental effects of the outbreak across the country.…”