As the globe fights the novel Coronavirus pandemic, women leaders across the world are earning praises for handling the health crisis better than their counterparts. Social media is abuzz with admiration for the female leaders who have worked towards the flattening of the Coronavirus curve in their countries.
New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern declared a national state of emergency late March with the imposition of strict lockdown for four weeks in the country leading to a significant decline in the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases over the past few days. With strict measures, New Zealand was one of the first countries to close its borders, ban public gatherings and ensure that all travellers arriving in the country remain in self-isolation. Addressing the citizens earlier in March, Jacinda Ardern ensured them the country is together during the crisis, urging them to stay home. On April 13, the country reported its 5th death with over 1000 confirmed cases. A decision on whether to extend the shutdown and state of emergency will be taken by PM Ardern soon.
Germany is significantly squashing the curve under the leadership of Angela Merkel with large-scale rapid testing (more than any other European country) and a boost in healthcare facilities. German Chancellor Merkel issued a warning to the citizens about the pandemic outbreak as early as March 11 with the imposition of lockdown on March 9. With over 118,000 confirmed cases, over 52,000 infected patients. have recovered since the outbreak. While the German Chancellor is yet to make a decision about the extension of the lockdown, the majority population has voiced against the easing of restrictions amid the pandemic scares.
Compared to other European countries, Denmark led by Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen was one of the first countries to impose restrictions on March 11 in the wake Coronavirus pandemic. Taking remarkably swift action to stop the spread COVID-19 at an early stage, Denmark has already started to ease its restrictions. PM Mette Frederiksen has announced that the schools and daycare centers in the country will reopen on April 15. As per media reports, the authorities have also offered to pay 75 percent of private companies' employee salaries to avoid mass layoffs. As of April 13, the country has over 6,000 confirmed cases out of whom over 2000 people have recovered from the virus. Over 270 people have lost their lives to the virus.
Iceland has tested one-tenth of its population for the virus. Even if the country did not impose a strict lockdown, Iceland government under the leadership of Katrín Jakobsdóttir, banned large public gatherings. Reportedly, there has been a significant drop in the number of daily cases since April 2. On April 13, the country has 1700 confirmed cases out of whom over 880 recovered from the virus.
Even as the number of cases continues to rise in Belgium, Prime Minister Sophie Wilmès has taken all possible measures to protect the citizens in the wake of the pandemic outbreak. The country declared lockdown on March 18 till April 5, which was later extended till April 19. The government is under discussion to extend the lockdown till the first week of May. Belgium is working towards step up testing of the citizens.
Under Prime Minister Sanna Marin's governance, Finland has also witnessed 88 percent recovery rate, as per news reports. The government announced a state of emergency in Finland on March 16 following the coronavirus outbreak. In order to protect the citizens, the government, led by the youngest female Prime Minister, also announced a one-month extension in the lockdown that will continue till May 13.
It is not just the female leaders across the world who have done remarkably well in managing their countries during the time of the pandemic, it is also the exceptional female representation in the healthcare sector who are at the forefront of tackling the virus. As per a report by the World Economic Forum, women comprise a majority of the world’s frontline health workers who are working hand-in-hand with men risking their own lives. In several parts of the country, women are playing a central role in the fight against the novel Coronavirus.
Meanwhile, the global number of COVID-19 confirmed cases is inching towards 18,60,000 with almost 1,15,00 deaths recorded (April 13).
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