Social contract is key to beating Covid-19, says WHO director

In contrast to European countries and the US, cases of Covid-19 in countries such as Japan, South Korea and China have led to swift and harsh measures being taken in order to loosen the grip of the disease on society.

Fans wearing face masks as a precaution against the coronavirus cheer during the Game 4 of the Korean Series, the Korea Baseball Organization's championship round, between Doosan Bears and NC Dinos at Gocheok Sky Dome in Seoul, South Korea, on Saturday. Picture: AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon)

Asian countries have been much more compliant than European countries in implementing strict Covid-19 measures because they have “long memories” of pandemics.

That's according to the Irish executive director of the World Health Organisation's Health Emergencies Programme, Dr Mike Ryan, who said Asia’s past experience with pandemics and epidemics had led its governments and societies to work together in order to keep Covid-19 cases manageable.