[_ph_]

The pacific islands seem to have done rather well in preventing Covid to take hold. Because they basically closed all borders early on. Fiji seems to have gotten quickly rid of covid with the first wave and ever since had no cases. Besides Fiji being said to be an overall nice place to be in, it certainly was pleseant as there were no restrictions for those on the island.

[ianhawes]

I am of the opinion that they are delaying the inevitable considering the likelihood that COVID-19 will be with us for the next decade.

[paganel]

That’s my point, too, the inevitable will come, at one point or another. Countries like Thailand or Vietnam used to be relatively Covid-free until a few months ago and were given as positive examples.

[ghaff]

Vaccines are definitely making a difference at this point. But I think we'll find, to the degree we can make sense of a lot of noisy data, that a lot of what people ascribed to cultural, behavioral, and political differences based on their own leanings will be seen as largely happenstance.

[ghaff]

There is a vaccination now. So to the degree that some locations were able to get through the pre-vaccine timeline, presumably (assuming people get vaccinated there) they'll end up with better--although not perfect--outcomes overall.

[_ph_]

It does make a huge difference to keep it out until the population could be vaccinated. No casualties, no sick. And that despite of no masks or other precautions.