COVID-19 pandemic; case studies: Australia, New Zealand and Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: COVID-19 is a viral respiratory disease produced by SARS-CoV-2.  The first cases were diagnosed in Wuhan, China in December 2019; then the disease became a pandemic. The WHO declared it a global emergency on January 30, 2020. General data on the epidemic in Cuba, Australia and New Zealand are presented.

Objective: To present the evolution of the epidemic in these countries as well as the measures taken and their results.

Material and Methods: A descriptive, quantitative and qualitative research used documentary review to compare information about the epidemic in the selected countries.  The information was obtained from medical journals, periodical press, and official websites and it was analyzed before June 13.

Results: Australia had 7,283 cases of which 6,888 (94.48%) patients recovered. They performed 1,782,651 diagnostic tests (69.91 per 10,000 inhabitants) and the positivity was 0.4%. They reported 102 deaths with higher rates in people aged 70 - 89 years, and a case fatality of 1.39%. New Zealand reported 1,515 cases, with 1,483 recovered (97.8%) and 22 deaths. They performed 310,297 (36 per 10,000 population) PCR tests, with 0.7% positive cases. The case fatality was 1.9%. Cuba accumulated 2,238 cases and 1,923 (86%) recovered. A total of 84 patients died, with a lethality of 3.75%. PCR tests (12.16 x 10,000 inhabitants) were performed reporting 1.7% of positive cases.

Conclusions: The control resulted from the political will to confront and contain the epidemic with drastic measures of social distancing, closure of borders and isolation of territories, application of diagnostic tests, and the existence of robust and free public health systems.