The South Korean approach to Covid-19 could not have been more different. There has been a general consensus in South Korea to trust in and respect the advice coming from doctors and scientistsMeanwhile, the South Korean government assumed the virus would hit. Most importantly, South Korea immediately began testing hundreds of thousands of asymptomatic people, including at drive-through centres. On 17 March, a temporary provision entailed a small subsidy of 454,900 South Korean won (£313) a month to cover basic living expenses. | Richard Horton Read moreIn cities such as New York where there is now widespread community transmission of Covid-19 it is likely too late to follow the South Korean model.

Source: The Guardian March 20, 2020 07:52 UTC