Questions tagged [covid-19]
Questions about political actions related to the outbreak of a novel coronavirus in 2019, SARS-CoV-2, which causes COVID-19. For general public health policy questions, use [public-health]. For questions requiring medical answers, please ask on https://medicalsciences.stackexchange.com
67
questions
51
votes
6
answers
17k
views
Why do Western countries seem to be less efficient than Asian countries in fighting against COVID-19?
So far it appears that Western countries especially in Europe (e.g. Italy, Spain, UK, France, Germany) struggle to curb the spread of COVID-19. This is in contrast to most Asian countries (China, ...
- 18k
31
votes
10
answers
5k
views
Is there an explanation for why ~20% of Americans think the US's response to COVID-19 has been better than South Korea's?
In this article, it's claimed that 20% of the US thinks the US is handling the COVID-19 outbreak better than South Korea, 21% think it's about the same, 26% think it's worse, and 32% aren't sure. This ...
- 36k
29
votes
14
answers
10k
views
Why is there so much reluctance to make the COVID vaccine mandatory for adults?
For all the talk on how its important for everyone to get vaccinated, not a single country has so far made the COVID vaccine mandatory for adults. Some states are making it mandatory for college ...
- 51.4k
11
votes
2
answers
746
views
How much do the Italian and Chinese COVID-19 lock-down measures resemble each other?
I have the impression that Italy has adopted some if not all the "Chinese playbook" on COVID-19, including a large scale lock-down. That may well be justified given that the number of new cases ...
-8
votes
3
answers
874
views
Why are countries still introducing COVID-19 quarantines for travelers from affected regions, even though it's been proven they don't work?
Various governments seem to be playing whack-a-mole with travel restrictions and mandatory quarantines in the recent COVID-19 epidemic. First Chinese residents were banned from numerous countries. ...
- 51.4k
39
votes
6
answers
12k
views
Why has Russia declined OPEC's request to cut oil production?
On Friday, Russia declined to participate in a plan devised by the Saudi-led Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) to cut oil production levels, in order to keep oil prices steady ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
16
votes
1
answer
2k
views
Does the US President have the power to quarantine a state or other locality?
On Saturday, March 28th, President Trump told reporters that he was "considering imposing a quarantine on New York state". He later tweeted that he was giving consideration to a quarantine of "hot ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
13
votes
1
answer
962
views
Why was the World Health Organization against travel restrictions following the COVID-19 outbreak?
At the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, the World Health Organization initially opposed countries instituting travel or trade restrictions. Example tweet, NPR article mentioning WHO's advice.
Why ...
- 3,760
12
votes
1
answer
825
views
What are the details of the Federal Reserve's $1.5 trillion injection?
According to the Wall Street Journal, in order to attempt to slow the economic contraction caused by the Covid-19 virus, the Federal Reserve has promised to inject $1.5 trillion into the economy, by
...
CDJB♦
- 108k
9
votes
3
answers
1k
views
Is it possible for a country to ask China for compensation over damage done by SARS-CoV-2 epidemic that most likely started in China?
A part of this answer got me wondering if another state can request compensations over the huge economical cost of SARS-CoV-2 epidemics:
(..) the region (HK, Singapore, SK?, China) was hit much ...
- 53.4k
9
votes
5
answers
3k
views
What are the benefits of the proposed Euro/Corona bonds over conventional government bonds?
This article describes the efforts of several European Union countries to agree to issue "corona bonds" or "Eurobonds", which are a joint EU mechanism to issue joint debt shared between different ...
CDJB♦
- 108k
4
votes
1
answer
256
views
Have any polls been conducted measuring support for the WHO?
In the past few weeks, we have seen some countries criticize the World Health Organization, particularly from Japan, and more recently the US President's withdrawal of WHO funding subject to a review.
...
CDJB♦
- 108k
116
votes
9
answers
20k
views
Why is Trump dubbing COVID-19 as the "Chinese virus" considered offensive, while many past epidemics have had similar naming schemes?
To preface this, I'm not a supporter of Trump, but I disagree with the way some major media outlets have criticized him over his nickname for COVID-19, the "Chinese virus". In addition, it is not ...
- 1,248
77
votes
7
answers
17k
views
Why is COVID-19 prompting such wide scale action versus other infectious diseases?
The COVID-19 outbreak has been dominating the news recently, with loads of headlines and efforts being made to stop it from spreading.
Why this disease? It's not one of the most lethal ones, or one ...
- 36k
67
votes
17
answers
11k
views
Why is the lab leak theory of Covid discussed so prominently?
I don't really understand what is the point fighting over about the lab leak theory. Certainly other virology labs should care, they want to be sure they don't make the same mistake. And certainly ...
- 7,658