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One critical factor in Australia was border control. This was not just limited to national borders - there were state border control involved as well. If you ca

One critical factor in Australia was border control. This was not just limited to national borders - there were state border control involved as well. If you came through a border (and if you were allowed to come through at all) between a "red zone" and a "green zone" you HAD to undergo quarantine. Now imagine telling citizens of Germany that they have to quarantine for two weeks, unable to go anywhere, etc, if they crossed over from the Netherlands. Or imagine telling a citizen of the US that their quick trip between NJ and NY means they are now stuck inside for 2 weeks. The islands locked down and locked down hard. This might be because it is easier on an island, but it might also be the island mentality that everywhere is a long way from here and we don't want there's troubles coming here if we can stop it. Edit: Another bullet in the "Islands do it geographically" theory also come from Australia. Australia had 700+ new infections a day at one point. This occurred in only one state, with all other neighbouring states seeing near zero infections due to state border controls. By quarantining and mask compliance and curfews within that state, AND a social welfare system which picked up the economic fragments and put them back together, Australia was able to bring this down to zero daily infections.

II2II 6y ago
Atlantic Canada took a similar approach, and has managed to keep the spread under relative control. While there are periodic outbreaks, numbers are low compared to the national numbers. An "island mentality" may be playing a role since the only land connections are with the U.S. and Quebec, both of which were hit particularly hard early in the pandemic.
AndrewBissell 6y ago
We also should not forget that Australia takes any seaborne migrants trying to come into the country and puts them in refugee camps (and New Zealand largely does not have to deal with such migrant flows by virtue of being more distant and isolated than Australia).
- shard972 6y ago
  Yep and it works wonders for us unlike the EU and the US who love to complain about it but then constantly deal with their own migration issues constantly and see horrific outcomes far worse than here.

II2II 6y ago

Atlantic Canada took a similar approach, and has managed to keep the spread under relative control. While there are periodic outbreaks, numbers are low compared to the national numbers. An "island mentality" may be playing a role since the only land connections are with the U.S. and Quebec, both of which were hit particularly hard early in the pandemic.

AndrewBissell 6y ago

We also should not forget that Australia takes any seaborne migrants trying to come into the country and puts them in refugee camps (and New Zealand largely does not have to deal with such migrant flows by virtue of being more distant and isolated than Australia).

shard972 6y ago
Yep and it works wonders for us unlike the EU and the US who love to complain about it but then constantly deal with their own migration issues constantly and see horrific outcomes far worse than here.