In this week’s round-up of coronavirus articles by scholars around the globe, we explore the disproportionate impacts of COVID-19 and the latest on drug trials.
The coronavirus has created a meat shortage in the United States.
Sezeryadigar/Getty Images
Shortages and price increases from the coronavirus pandemic are spotlighting solutions to future meat supply chain disruptions.
Aniel Arruebarenna, a team member from the Centro de Estudios Ambientales de Cienfuegos, prepares to collect flow measurements.
Joshua Brown/University of Vermont
Joshua Aizenman, USC Dornsife College of Letters, Arts and Sciences
Over the first 100 days of the pandemic, countries that quickly implemented strong policies successfully lowered their death rates faster. There were also some surprises in the successes and failures.
The US and its allies are demanding answers over how COVID-19 became a pandemic. But instead of pointing fingers at China, the inquiry should focus on scientific clues to help us thwart future disasters.
While some authoritarian governments have won early praise, research shows that democratic countries with a balance of power between central and regional bodies are best able to succeed.
A family wear face masks amid lockdown in Rome.
EPA/Angelo Carconi
Cuban medicine is now called upon both to protect the island’s population from Covid-19 and to help various foreign countries, including Italy and France.
Breezy Point, NY, in the wake of Hurricane Sandy in 2012.
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Preliminary results from a US trial show remdesivir may help in treating COVID-19. But the findings haven’t been peer-reviewed, and the results from other clinical trials have shown little effect.
Africa needs to promote domestic tourism.
Joana French/Shutterstock
African countries should draw from past experience to put together plans to manage the post-COVID-19 tourism void
On April 15, Finland’s foreign minister Pekka Haavisto (pictured in September 2019) announced on that his country would voluntarily increase its funding of the Wolrd Health Organization.
Wikipedia
Suerie Moon, Graduate Institute – Institut de hautes études internationales et du développement (IHEID)
The world rightly expressed shock and dismay at Donald Trump’s suspension of US funding for WHO. To respond, other governments, funders and citizens are urgently needed to fill the gap.
The “abortion pill” mifepristone.
Robin Marty/Flickr
With healthcare facilities burned by the Covid-19 pandemic, some countries have eased access to the “abortion pills” mifepristone and misoprostol (RU-486), a change that could signal a long-term shift.
Populist leaders can be a liability. Their optimistic bias and complacency, ambiguity, and ignorance of science undermine crisis management and put all at risk.
An aerial view of a new isolation and treatment centre established by the Lagos State government at the main bowl of the state-owned Stadium.
Pius Utomi Ekpei/AFP via Getty Images
While testing is central to the fight against COVID-19, there are a myriad of factors to consider, especially by African countries, when taking decisions to curtail the spread of the disease.
Pence and Trump attend a coronavirus task force briefing.
AP Photo/Patrick Semansky
The federal government has declared a state of emergency over COVID-19. Two public health scholars explain what that means.
Italian Prime Minister, Giuseppe Conte, taking part at a video conference in extraordinary virtual G20 Leaders’ Summit at the Chigi Palace in Rome.
EPA/A handout photo from the Chigi Palace Press Office
Associate Professor in Islamic Studies, Director of The Centre for Islamic Studies and Civilisation and Executive Member of Public and Contextual Theology, Charles Sturt University