While many of these nations skipped the first wave, they’re struggling now.

A big-picture analysis requires us to pay attention to multiple factors at the same time. I recently observed that matters currently look grim globally. Yesterday, a record number of daily COVID-19 deaths were reported by governments around the world – 10,502. Pundits who declared this pandemic over in May were quite mistaken.

While much of Europe is in the grip of a second wave, the East European experience has been distinct. Those countries did a fantastic job of keeping coronavirus infections and deaths low during the first six months. They practically skipped the first wave. Now, things have changed. At the moment, an average of 350 people are dying each day in Poland:

In the Ukraine, 160 human beings are perishing daily:

In Romania, it’s 150 people:

In the Czech Republic, it’s 175:

In Hungary, it’s 100:

The notable exception to this East European pattern appears to be Serbia (population: 8.7 million). Deaths have been low there, throughout. But currently, the trajectory is 20 daily deaths and beyond. Will the virus subside, or will Serbia’s experience begin to mirror its neighbours?

There are many pieces to the COVID puzzle. Many distinct experiences.

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