COVID-19 has hit France and the U.S. to a comparable extent. But their techniques for tackling the pandemic were substantially unique — as I’ve seen.
-In January:
I moved from the US to France amid the coronavirus pandemic that has deeply affected each nation.
The ailment has taken a comparable toll in each nation. As I write this, a few 10% of Americans have shriveled COVID-19, as compared to 9% of the French. In each of the US and France, approximately 0.2% of the populace has died from the ailment.
Yet, every united state has taken a unique technique to confront the pandemic, reflecting contrasting politics, healthcare, and culture.
After a preliminary lockdown in my domestic town of New York in early 2020, I turned into capable of dining outdoors, going to museums, and keeping in character. But my excessive faculty commencement turned into virtual, and I began my college research at Georgetown University online. It made for a difficult painting-existence balance.
In Paris, there was a single-day curfew beginning withinside the early evening, eating places are closed and non-critical companies are closed. But I attend training in character at the American University in Paris, can meet my classmates, and feature a miles higher general intellectual nation and routine.
-France has stored faculties open, in contrast to the maximum of the U.S:
Although each nation suffered a surge of COVID-19 instances withinside the remaining 1/2 of 2020, France has stored maximum faculties open even as the US has now no longer.
“Europe made the proper choice” concerning faculty openings, stated Jeffrey Levi, a professor of Health Management & Policy at George Washington University. “We have greater than sufficient records that the chance of transmission in faculties is decreased than in person workplaces.”
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, in-character gaining knowledge in faculties has now no longer been related to sizable network transmission. “Some researchers have observed that it’s miles viable for groups to lessen the occurrence of COVID-19 even as preserving faculties open for in-character instruction,” the CDC stated in a current report.
School closures affect now no longer best the instructional overall performance and intellectual fitness of students, however, they could punish dads and moms and their own circle of relatives earnings.
“Working dad and mom are much more likely to overlook paintings while faculties near for you to contend with their children,” the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization stated. “This consequences in salary loss and generally tend to negatively affect productivity, upload an additional burden to operating dad and mom and might negatively affect the economy.”
-Different techniques for COVID-19 trying out, masks:
Both nations have additionally taken unique techniques to try out for COVID-19, which Levi called “notably crucial for tracking the pandemic.”
The U.S. trying out price, at 1.38 exams in line with the character, is 14% better than in France, in which every citizen on common has had 1.22 exams. In New York, there may be an emphasis on getting examined regularly, whether or not or now no longer has symptoms. In France, you should have a purpose for a check. A few weeks ago, I turned into a “touch case of a touch case” however turned into denied a check at 5 pharmacies because I turned into now no longer displaying any symptoms.
Still, many Americans can’t find the money to get examined. The common value of a COVID-19 check withinside the United States is $127, in step with the Kaiser Family Foundation. The value is passed the way of many humans, which means rich Americans are receiving a disproportionate percentage of exams.
In France, way to the nation’s common fitness care system, COVID-19 trying out is unfastened for everyone.
Another distinction pertains to masks, which in step with the Lancet magazine can lessen the price of transmission with the aid of using greater than 80%.
In France, humans are required to put on a mask in public and run the chance of first-rate for failing to accomplish that in an interior public setting. In the US, 25 states haven’t any mask mandate for any indoor public setting. Only in February did the federal authorities require masks in the U.S. transportation network.
-U.S. vaccination rollout is beforehand of France’s:
Because the US is a federal system, the critical authorities can’t put into effect a country-wide mask mandate, which Levi stated offers states leeway to tailor coverage and regulations to neighborhood needs.
“There have been instances while unique components of the united states have been dealing with a greater hard scenario and required greater stringent rules,” Levi stated. “One rule might both be too vulnerable or too strong.”
-While France has experimented with a few neighborhood regulations, trendy measures were on a country-wide scale.
Finally, the US has been vaccinating greater aggressively than France. As of writing, 12% of France’s populace has been completely vaccinated, as compared to 35% withinside the United States.
However, France does now no longer have complete manipulate over its vaccine rollout for the reason that the European Union controls the procurement and distribution of vaccines.
Fortunately, France is dashing up vaccinations, and in subsequent months each person may be eligible for a COVID-19 shot.
By then, I’ll be again with inside the United States to renew my research, and each scholar at my college will be vaccinated.
