Why did a small island state do so well? The Cook Islands’ Government response to COVID-19
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Abstract
Perceived vulnerabilities of Small Island Developing States create a dialogue of smallness and susceptibility to the negative impacts of disasters such as the COVID-19 pandemic. The Cook Islands’ response to COVID-19 stands out as a success story of resilience against implied vulnerability. Modelling showed the Cook Islands was expected to have hundreds of hospitalisations and tens of deaths, a relatively small but potentially significant burden on the small state. To date, the country has experienced five hospitalisations and two deaths. A combination of measures that relied on preparedness, self-reliance and collaboration enabled this small island state to beat the odds and come through the COVID-19 crisis relatively unscathed.
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