South Africa has been ranked as the second-worst country to live in during the COVID-19 pandemic. Mexico claims the number one spot, according to Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking.
New Zealand has been named the best country to live in, followed by Singapore, Australia and Taiwan for their low community transmission and death rates. The ranking provides a snapshot of where the pandemic is handled the most effectively and with the least social and economic disruption.
The second wave of the virus has been even more devastating than the initial wave, which peaked in June of 2020. National government responded with the increase of lockdown restrictions, but this, in turn, has also harmed the travel, tourism, restaurant and alcohol industries.
In most countries, the biggest weapon against the pandemic has been the rollout of vaccinations. South Africa, however, missed several deadlines to procure vaccinations. The first rollout is due to begin from February 1, and thus far, Bloomberg estimates that vaccinations have only been secured for 6% of the population.
According to President Cyril Ramaphosa, the country has now secured 20-million doses, with the 1.5-million of these being the AstraZeneca vaccination which will be arriving from the Serum Institute of India.
Ramaphosa said that the aim is to vaccinate two-thirds of South Africa’s population by the end of the year.
The table below provides an overview of the Bloomberg’s Covid Resilience Ranking:
