World Notebooks - 05/17/2020

Contents - Carnets du Monde 

- Covid-19, Russian figures question

Russia is on the way to becoming the new epicenter of the coronavirus epidemic with nearly 10,000 daily infections. Authorities have so far downplayed the scale of the pandemic, allowing the epidemic to spread throughout the Moscow capital. A catastrophic health situation that doctors have to manage with a blatant lack of means. These same doctors who, when they wanted to alert public opinion were punished. Today, the low mortality rate in Russia, 7.6 times less than the global mortality, leaves observers puzzled.

Report from Elena Volochine, correspondent in Russia

- Belarus, the country which does not know the epidemic

In this small country bordering Russia, the dictator Alexander Lukashenko denies the gravity of the virus and refuses to implement health measures. In Belarus, life goes on as if nothing had happened and on May 9, the country celebrated with great pomp the 75 years of victory over Nazi Germany. The casualness of their leader worries the medical profession, which fears an unprecedented health crisis. Despite repeated calls from WHO to find "alternative solutions" so as not to "risk human lives", the autocrat remains deaf and denounces "the psychosis" of the coronavirus

Decryption with Benoit Vitkine, journalist at Le Monde, Prix Albert Londres 2019 and author of Donbass at Les Arènes editions

- Those countries that have limited breakage in Europe

They suffered from the financial crisis but they managed to manage the health crisis. Portugal was less affected than other countries in Europe. The first cases were detected a month after Spain, it was heavily affected. The country reacted very quickly by locking its borders, closing schools and instituting a state of health emergency to supervise the containment of the population. By taking the lead and anticipating the recommendations of experts, the Portuguese government has succeeded in limiting the pandemic.

Testimony of François Da Silva who lives in Portugal

As for the island of Cyprus, it too is a good student in Europe. The island quickly implemented control measures which made it possible to limit cases of contamination. Cyprus therefore begins this week a very supervised deconfinement. But the epidemic had the consequences of dividing the island sometimes creating a real drama in the population separated by the checkpoints and rekindling the tension with the North bordered by Turkey.

Explanations from Marie Beyrière, correspondent in Cyprus

- A book in the World

Nicolas Carreau takes us on a journey through the great classics of literature and this week he chose one of the greatest texts in American literature "Tom Sawyer". The story of Tom a little orphan raised by his aunt in Missouri, on the banks of the Mississippi river in search of adventure with his friend Huckleberry Finn. To read, or read again !

Tom Sawyer by Mark Twain published by Tristram

- Tracks for a deconfinement: trip to 2 countries which have better managed the epidemic.

South Korea has succeeded in curbing the epidemic without confining its population, a fine example of success from which France could draw inspiration ... This is in any case what is recommended in the report by Professor François Amblard who lives and works in Korea from the South for 5 years. The reasons for success can also be attributed to a massive screening policy implemented long before the slightest case of contamination in the country. For the Korean authorities, health is a precious asset that should be protected and investments in this area are massive.

Decryption with François Amblard Physicist and Biologist at the University of Science and Technology of Ulsan in South Korea. He is the author of a report on the handling of the crisis by South Korea.

After three weeks of deconfinement Germany seems to be in control of the epidemic. With the exception of a few isolated outbreaks, the number of contamination remains low while the population is gradually finding a life outside. Germany set up a policy of massive screening and isolation very early on, thus succeeding in breaking the chains of contamination. This massive screening policy is the condition for a return to normal life and therefore continues during deconfinement. Today in Germany, you can get tested very easily, even in a car park!

Report by Hélène Kohl correspondent in Germany

- Covid stops drug trafficking

In Peru, the marketing of the coca leaf is a legal activity that supports tens of thousands of families. But since March 15, the country has declared a state of health emergency, limiting travel in the country. This poses a serious problem for small coca producers who can no longer route their production to the highlands where coca is consumed. They therefore see their stock waste away and thus lose their only means of supporting their families. But incredible thing, this virus succeeds where all the police forces of the world hitherto failed, to put an end to the traffic of narco-traffickers!

Explanations from Amanda Chaparro correspondent in Peru

Guest: Jérôme Pierrat , journalist, documentary filmmaker and specialist in international drug trafficking and networks.

- Travel to Autistan

Josef Schovanec, philosopher-traveler and autistic sprinkler shares with us his look on the world, a little different ... 

For Josef Schovanec the large-scale teleworking that we have practically all known in recent weeks has been an opportunity to discover these colleagues in a less staid way. Rethinking relationships with our colleagues through telework is something similar to Josef's cultural discovery in a new country.