Taiwan, Japan, Sweden and Greece; a tale of four countries.

Early in 2020, the world started taking notice that a novel coronavirus disease, was spreading in the Chinese city of Wuhan.  It was later named, SARS-CoV-2 and the disease Covid-19.  As of today, there are slightly more than 6 million confirmed cases around the world and the global death toll has surpassed 370,000.   

Taiwan is an island nation of 24 million that sits just 70 miles from China.  More than four-hundred thousands of its citizens work in China and more than 2 million Chinese visit Taiwan every year thus a massive outbreak of the disease named Covid-19 seemed all but inevitablefor Taiwan would be one of the hardest hit countries.  Yet despite the odds, Taiwan has recorded only 441 cases of the disease as of today, with only 7 patients dying.  

So how did Taiwan manage to have so few cases and so few deaths from the disease.  First and most important Taiwan enacted prevention measures early.  On Dec. 31, the day the Wuhan authorities announced that there were several patients with an unidentified type of pneumonia, Taiwan activated stricter control measures with testing of incoming travellers with fever and questioned suspected travellers about their contact history.

On Jan 20, Taiwan activated its Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC), which rolled out more than 124 measures such as banning all exports of surgical masks and providing all its citizens with two free masks.  On Jan 26 it banned travel to and from Wuhan.  According to a March 3 article published in JAMA, the CECC rolled out measures that included border control, case identification, quarantine for all travelers from regions hard hit by the disease, and postponing the reopening of schools following the winter break.  The center also served as the source of information for the public, with daily press conferences that provided the population with reliable and easy to understand information about the outbreak.  It was thanks to these measures that Taiwan experienced one of the smallest fatality rates in the world of only 0.3 deaths per million.

Japan went its own way, limiting tests to only the most severe cases.

Japan — the grayest country in the world and a popular tourist destination with large, crowded cities — has one of the lowest mortality rates from Covid-19. Τhe government never forced businesses to close and the medical system did not get overwhelmed. 

Japan focused on quickly containing small outbreaks through contact tracing. It has focused on lessening people’s anxiety and stressing the basic science of prevention: wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance from others.

A public education campaign urged people to avoid the “Three C’s” which are closed spaces with poor ventilation, crowded places and close contact.

Last week, Prime Minister Abe declared Japan’s battle against the outbreak a success, taking the country off its “lockdown lite” that lasted only a month and a half.  Japan experienced one of the smallest fatality rates in the world of only 7 deaths per million.

As the virus spread across Europe, many Greeks feared that Greece would be hit as bad asItaly and Spain.  On Feb. 27, a day after the country’s first Covid-19 case was diagnosed the government canceled the annual carnival and all sporting events and on March 11, it closed down schools and universities. Two days later all travelers from abroad had to go through a two-week mandatory quarantine.  It also closed down cafes, restaurants, libraries and museums.  Attendance of mass in churches was also forbidden even during Holy week and Easter. 

Everyone in the country during the 2 ½ months lockdown had to request permission by sending an SMS each time we were to leave our homes, to go to supermarkets, doctors’ offices, pharmacies to visit and help our elderly relatives, to go for a walk or risk a fine.

(Picture of an empty Monastiraki square in Athens with view of the Acropolis in the background.)  

The government established a council of experts who issued information and advice on a daily basis.  It was the willingness of most Greeks to comply with experts’ suggestions that brought about an outstanding result of only 2,915 confirmed cases and 175 deaths as of today.  Greece similarly to Japan tested for the virus less than 1 percent of the population. As of today, 15,903 tests per million were performed mostly on people admitted to hospitals with symptoms and those who have been in contact with confirmed cases. Spot tests on travelers coming into the country from abroad were performed as well.  For comparison purposes Germany and Austria countries that also had very good results performed 47,194 and 47,477 tests per million of inhabitants respectively.  

As of this week, the number of cases and more important the number of deaths per million comparing to other European countries point to a Greek success story.  So, what was Greece’s good result due to?  First, as Taiwan, Greece enacted its plan, a strict lockdown, earlier than most European countries.  Second, the population of 11 million Greeks lives in a mainland which is mountainous, the size of which is 50,000 square miles, and which is surrounded by two seas the Aegean (82,000 square miles) and the Ionian sea (65,000 square miles) with more than a thousand islands,  thus the country is sparsely populated as its physical characteristics make contact between villages and small towns difficult, which after all was forbidden during the lockdown.  Third, most of the Greeks accepted the enacted recommendations of social distancing and adhered to its principles.   Greece experienced one of the smallest fatality rates in Europe of only 18 deaths per million.

(Picture of a deserted beach in Porto Rafti, Greece)

Sweden's controversial plan to deal with the coronavirus allowed for people to go outside, visit restaurants, bars  and shops as long as they kept distant from each other.  Sweden closed high schools and universities and did not allow gatherings of more than 50 people.  Although not everyone in Sweden is happy with this approach, the majority of the people were satisfied.

Anders Tegnell, who advocated this approach, estimated that 40% of the people in Stockholm will be immune by the end of June which will give the country a big advantage, as most of the countries will experience a “big second wave” later this year.  As of May 20th, only 7.3% of Stockholm’s inhabitants have antibodies to Covid-19.  He also said the “lockdown strategy” has not scientific basis especially when it comes to the young and children as they do not transmit the disease.   Sweden has reported zero coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours, for the first time since March 13.  Sweden experienced fatality rate was average in Europe with 440 deaths per million.

So, which approach should countries follow in the future when an infectious disease appears to be spreading and the danger of an epidemic is real?  Extensive testing such as performed in Singapore allows authorities to quickly determine who is infected and isolate them.  More than 90% of cases in Singapore  were mostly young, healthy men. Of those who died, 95% were more than 60 years old, while the vast majority of those infected were between the ages of 20 and 59. 

Taiwan’s and Greece’s success stories suggest that an early detection of a pandemic and enactment of measures for its control minimize the number of cases, flattens the curve and deaths.  

The “lockdown light’ approach of Japan also ensured a low death fatality rate.   

The open society approach with social distancing as it was practiced in Sweden has higher death toll but left the economy minimally affected.  

All four countries followed their experts’ advice and their policies did not become a source of political discord.  Unfortunately, fear and politicization of crises stigmatize governments or groups of people without helping to solve the challenge at hand therefore are ultimately unproductive.  Hopefully, in 2021 an effective vaccine will become available that will limit the prevalence of the disease.  Past pandemics such as the 1918-1919 Spanish flu, still have lessons we all can learn and benefit from as most viral pandemics have similarities therefore similar measures such social distancing, wearing masks when in crowded places, washing our hands often, use of hand sanitiser,  sneezing and coughing etiquette, often help in their control.  

Finally, going out for a walk and spending time in nearby park or nature reserve reduces stress and help us feel healthier and happier.  Looking at greenery and listening at nature’s sounds including total silence afforded to us in remote areas can boost our sense of well-being.   

Well, my friends this is the last post on pandemics and Covid-19.  In my opinion the pandemic will die down on its own as most epidemics do and all of us those infected or not will remember the Covid-19 epoch for the rest of our lives.

(Picture of the view and the undeveloped path  I took my daily walk that helped my mood during the lockdown) 

A Trilogy

Temples in the shape of the sky

and beautiful girls too 

with grapes in their teeth, you should have!

birds that nil the weight off our hearts 

and the blue we loved is everywhere!

The temple of Poseidon in Sounion

with its deep sky blue

and the vastness of the pelagic sea

it is the temple in the shape of the sky

that symbolizes our love too!

And the statue at the apex of the island

at the entrance of the blue bay’s too  

was photographed by my love 

and her father too 

they are as beautiful as our love too! 

by Odysseas Elytis, Nobel laureate 1979 and two more

Last Sail in 2018

My brother Nikos, steering Okyrhoe, to her winter berth.  They are near Patroclus islet and not far from cape Sounion.

Closing towards cape Sounion with a storm looming in the east. 

The sun lights a rock of the precipice at Sounion at sunset. Cape Sounion is surrounded on three sides by the sea and is where king Aegeas waited for his son Theseus return from Crete. 

Cape Sounion which the Venetians called Capo Colonne is noted for its temple of Poseidon, one of the major monuments of the Golden Age of Greece. 

Cape Sounion is close to the city of Lavrio, which in antiquity was called Thorikon.  It was known for its silver mines the proceeds from which supported the rise of Athens to the most important city in Classical Greece.

Top Three

Five years have passed since I started my blog.  During this time I have uploaded 164 stories.  The three most popular posts are:

Poseidon Temple and the Aegean Sea

http://dgscrosscountrychronicles.blogspot.com/2014/04/poseidons-temple-and-aegean-sea.html

  

Porto Rafti

http://dgscrosscountrychronicles.blogspot.com/2014/03/porto-rafti.html

  

The Goddess, the Queen, and the Plant

http://dgscrosscountrychronicles.blogspot.com/2014/06/the-goddess-queen-and-plant.html

Most of the visitors were from the United States followed by Greece, Russia, France, Germany, Ireland, Canada, Ukraine, United Kingdom and Malaysia in that order.

The picture is from Poseidon’s Temple in Sounion.    It is a place you can enjoy the expanse of the Aegean Sea and the blue of the sky that inspire people when there, so here are some thoughts first in Greek and followed by its translation

Σουνιο, Βραυρώνα, Ναξος, Κρυφο Μανδρακι
Είμαστε πλασμένοι γι'αυτες τις μικρές τις χώρες
Και οι αρχαίοι ναοί που η μουσική τους αντηχεί στο πέλαγος
Αυτος ειναι ο ύμνος της αγάπης μας μεσα στην απεραντοσύνη του γαλάζιου

Sounion, Vravron and Secret Mandrakion

we were born and attached to these places

their Ancient Temples and hymns that

resonate in the sacred Aegean

 and echo

our love's story in the immense expanse

of the blue sky and sea.

On this first day of 2018, I wish you all, your families and friends a Happy New Year.

Aegean Regatta – The return.

The passage from the island of Rhodes to the port of Lavrion was approximately 240 nautical miles.  The course over ground (COG) was much longer as the northerly headwinds (Meltemi) required frequent tacks.  At this point a word of advice to those mariners who intend to sail the Aegean, the Meltemi winds are strong during the middle of the day but ease up in the very early morning and also in the evening. 

The first stop on the way back was the small island of Tilos, which is located 40 nm east of Rhodes.  Our intend was to sail to Kos but because of strong north winds we changed course and headed west.  Interestingly, the gusts tore up our jib, which we sew ourselves when we reached Livadia, the main port of the island. The island's old capital, Mikro Chorio, first settled in the 15th century by the Knights of the Orderof St John, overlooks the bay. It has been completely abandoned by its inhabitants in the 60s. 

The second leg was to Astypalea α 60 nm crossing.  The island was reached after a rough sail against strong north winds 25 knots gusting to 30 with only two able sailors aboard, Nikos and Elias.  "We managed with double reefing the main and with the assist of our 9HP engine that worked nonstop during the 12-hour crossing" Nikos said.  The island of Astypalea was named after the Greek mythological sister of Europa.  The shores of Astypalea are rocky and the island has two sections that are separated by a small 125 meters band.  (map by Giacomo Franco 1597)

On the way to Astypalea we sailed by several islets the largest of which is Syrna.  In Astypalea we met the owner of a general store called Syrna.  She was the last and only resident on Syrna islet. 

The next leg was to the tiny island of Schinoussa, which is located to the south of Naxos.  We first passed by the islets of Pontikoussa and Ofidoussa, which are located to the southwest of Astypalea which although beautiful are dangerous to navigate by especially at night.  

We reached Schinousa after sailing for 55 nm with the two brave souls aboard. The little island captivates those visitors who seek pristine beaches with crystal clear water and a calm place for their vacations. 

Our fourth stop after a 22 nm sail was Naxos the largest of the Cycladitic islands.   Although the shortest of our crossings, it was the most difficult because of strong northerly gusty winds that required many tacks.    

When we reached the port of Naxos, it was full, but thanks to Okyrhoe’s small size we tied next to some larger boats. I will keep Naxos caption brief, as I will dedicate an entire post to this fascinating island.  I will only mention that a freak accident to Elias created a 7 cm cut on his foreleg that required several stitches by the local doctor.   

The final leg of our return trip was from Naxos to Lavrion was an 80 nm sail.  We cast the lines off at 4 am and we were under way northwest bound in calm winds and seas.   The first two hours of our trip were in total darkness and all three of us were captivated by the magnificent night sky. I will not describe all the stars of that night other than say that, Milky Way, our galaxy, is an awe inspiring sight that can be observed easily with the naked eye.  The other interesting sight was a bright star that rose from the east just before dawn.  It was not a star, it was planet Venous.

We also saw the Pleiades known as the 7 sisters. The name Pleiades derives either from their mother’s name Pleione or from the verb πλεῖν (in Greek means “to sail”) because of the cluster's importance in delimiting the sailing season in the Mediterranean Sea.  The Greek poet Hesiod mentions the Pleiades in his Works and Days (618-23) several times:

"And if longing seizes you for sailing the stormy seas,

When the Pleiades flee mighty Orion

And plunge into the misty deep

And all the gusty winds are raging,

Then do not keep your ship on the wine-dark sea

But, as I bid you, remember to work the land." 

Finally, we are at the strait of Lavrion and only a few miles away from its port.  Dear friends and fellow sailors we took Hesiod’s advice and our boat Okyrhoe is now on dry dock for the rest of the winter.  My brother Nikos and his able crew did well in the many races they participated in the 2017 season so they now deserve becoming landlubbers again at least until next spring.  I wish you all a lovely holiday season starting with December 6^th, the feast day of Saint Nicholas, the patron saint of sailors who returns at Christmas Eve as Santa Claus to bring us all presents.