[BostonCard]

Italy was the first country to be hit hard outside of China.  They were the canary in the Western coal mine.  The UK is well known to have blown their response; they waffled with the idea to just let the virus run rampant before the Kings college projections scared the bejesus out of the government and they reversed course, but the damage was done and the virus started running rampant, and their per capita death rate is highest in the world among major economies (Belgium is higher as is tiny San Marino).  Germany is a good example of how to handle the pandemic, having had a robust testing regimen early and being quick to shut down as case counts rose.  Macron's party got wiped out in the recent local elections, and he has just reshuffled his cabinet, replacing his prime minister. I view that as a reflection of the fact that the French people think he blew the response.

If you want to make the case that the response in France and Spain, two countries hit hard as benchmarks, you can, but I would hold our response to a higher standard.

BC

[BostonCard]

Italy was the first country to be hit hard outside of China.  They were the canary in the Western coal mine.  The UK is well known to have blown their response; they waffled with the idea to just let the virus run rampant before the Kings college projections scared the bejesus out of the government and they reversed course, but the damage was done and the virus started running rampant, and their per capita death rate is highest in the world among major economies (Belgium is higher as is tiny San Marino).  Germany is a good example of how to handle the pandemic, having had a robust testing regimen early and being quick to shut down as case counts rose.  Macron's party got wiped out in the recent local elections, and he has just reshuffled his cabinet, replacing his prime minister. I view that as a reflection of the fact that the French people think he blew the response.

If you want to make the case that the response in France and Spain, two countries hit hard as benchmarks, you can, but I would hold our response to a higher standard.

BC