were not identified and registered during at least 4 months. Probably, these first
cases were not very severe, and the symptoms were not so pronounced. Presumably
mutations of the coronavirus made it more pathogenic, and sick people became
more noticeable in December 2019. But previous cases were not taken into account
in the statistics. It should not be ruled out that the population of this region had a
collective immunity to pathogens similar to COVID-19 before the pandemic.
We do not question the effectiveness of quarantine measures and the speed of
isolation of patients and contacts in China, South Korea, Japan, Australia or New
Zealand. But it is difficult to explain the low incidence per capita in the region only
by this effectiveness. Probably, some kind of a collective immunity has the African
population as well; since the number of cases per capita is significantly lower than
in other regions (except Western Pacific). High values of V A =N pop and V B =N pop for
the WHO region of Americas may indicate insufficient quarantine and its massive
violation (compared to Europe and Mediterranean).
7 Comparison of the First Waves of the COVID-19 …
107
cases were not very severe, and the symptoms were not so pronounced. Presumably
mutations of the coronavirus made it more pathogenic, and sick people became
more noticeable in December 2019. But previous cases were not taken into account
in the statistics. It should not be ruled out that the population of this region had a
collective immunity to pathogens similar to COVID-19 before the pandemic.
We do not question the effectiveness of quarantine measures and the speed of
isolation of patients and contacts in China, South Korea, Japan, Australia or New
Zealand. But it is difficult to explain the low incidence per capita in the region only
by this effectiveness. Probably, some kind of a collective immunity has the African
population as well; since the number of cases per capita is significantly lower than
in other regions (except Western Pacific). High values of V A =N pop and V B =N pop for
the WHO region of Americas may indicate insufficient quarantine and its massive
violation (compared to Europe and Mediterranean).
7 Comparison of the First Waves of the COVID-19 …
107