Comparing COVID Surges, the U.S. Stands Alone

David Leonhardt, writing for The New York Times:

The U.S. was not alone in suffering a resurgence this fall. Much of the world did. But many other countries responded to that surge with targeted new restrictions and, in a few cases, with an increase in rapid-result testing. Those measures seem to be working. Worldwide, the number of new cases has fallen over the past week.

In some countries, the declines are large: more than 50 percent over the past month in Belgium, France, Italy, Kenya and Saudi Arabia; more than 40 percent in Argentina and Morocco; more than 30 percent in India and Norway.

And in the U.S.? The number of new cases has risen 51 percent over the past month.

On the one side, Americans who insist the threat is not real. On the other, the rest of us, who find the other side’s obstinate, belligerent ignorance unreal.

★ Wednesday, 16 December 2020