We have repeatedly mentioned that early in the epidemic South Korea had drive-through testing and that South Korea was similar to the United States in being a modern, sophisticated nation, with a medical establishment every bit as talented and well-trained. We often covered the fact that South Korea’s responded to the virus far quicker than we did.

It is logical to presume that South Korea faced the virus’s attack sooner than we did. South Korea is only a small gulf of water away from China, and trade from China to South Korea reaches South Korea in a few days, whereas it typically arrives in the United States in a few weeks.

But did you realize that South Korea had its first case of Covid-19 documented on the same day as the first case documented in the United States? I had not.

The first coronavirus case in the U.S. and South Korea was detected on the same day. By late January, Seoul had medical companies starting to work on a diagnostic test — one was approved a week later. Today, the U.S. isn’t even close to meeting test demand https://t.co/r49Z9SzZF5 pic.twitter.com/8FCkQkHiHQ

— Reuters (@Reuters) March 18, 2020

The “today” referenced in the tweet was yesterday.

As of two days ago, South Korea had tested 274,000 people. The U.S. had only tested 25,000. South Korea has a population of 51 million, the United States’ population is 331 million. South Korea has tested roughly 5% of its citizens, the United States has tested .00007%.

True, South Korea doesn’t have to make as many total tests to reach 5% of its people. And yet the United States has far more money and production capacity than a smaller country like South Korea. We are also the nation that put a man on the moon and built the interstate highway system within thirty years. We are the richest nation in the history of civilization.

South Korea is a great country, and the United States is a great country. The primary difference concerning the response is not money, scientific awareness or the vigilance of citizens. It is the fact that South Korea has a far more effective executive branch in government. South Korea’s public health officials and political leaders recognized the danger near immediately, and as soon as they recognized the danger, prepared as a government, and as a citizenry.

The South Korean government didn’t deny the disease was a big public health threat. It didn’t blame the media or political rivals. It didn’t put off action because it worried about its stock market. It acted as one nation to protect all its citizens.

I have no doubt that American leaders at the CDC, our public health professionals, recognized the danger at the same point in time as South Korea’s officials. Nor do I doubt that our professionals conveyed the message to our president with the same sense of urgency.

The difference is that our president worried about what might happen to himself, first and foremost, worried about the market reaction more than his reaction, and thought he could manipulate the American people like he manipulated people with cons throughout his life: “It’s like the flu.” “We have it contained.” “It’s the new Russia.” “The Democrats failed at impeachment so now …”

No doubt, even with all its preparation, South Korea will suffer deaths and economic consequences. But South Korea’s consequences will be far less severe per capita than the United States.’

There is one primary difference between the two nations.

Pass it on.

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Peace, y’all

Jason

[email protected] and on Twitter @MiciakZoom