These stories are part of Global Voices’ special coverage of COVID-19 and offer a view on the pandemic from the perspective of our global community of contributors.
Stories about COVID-19 from February, 2020
Battered by criticism, Abe government scrambles to save Japan from COVID-19
"Just cancel it!" (#中止だ中止), a line from the 1988 animated film Akira about the cancellation of the fictional Olympics, accompanied by a screenshot of the movie, trended on Japan Twitter.
An Italian national is the index case patient of COVID-19 disease in Nigeria
Lagos is a commercial hub in Nigeria and the likelihood of a rapid spread of COVID-19 to other parts of the country is a looming possibility.
Chinese censorship demonstrates it can afford the cost of ‘the death of media’
A massive number of groups and user accounts were removed by platforms following the death of Dr. Li Wenliang, which set social media on fire.
Japan edges ever closer to a COVID-19 epidemic
As a ship with 454 infected passengers remains quarantined at berth in Yokohama, the likelihood of a potential epidemic within Japan has slowly started to sink in.
China travel ban heightens threats to Australia's trade, tourism and education sectors
"#Coronavirus is more than a minor cold for the Chinese economy... They’ve got more to worry about than another week’s travel ban to Australia."
Positive energy floods Chinese social media as over 60,000 infected with COVID-2019
As of February 15, there are 66,577 infections and 1,524 deaths as a result of 2019-nCoV -- which has not stopped Chinese social media from being flooded with positive energy.
Coronavirus-related xenophobia spreads to Central and Eastern Europe
Incidents of hostility towards Asian people reported in North Macedonia, Czech Republic, Belarus and ...social networks across the region
Is the coronavirus epidemic China's ‘Chernobyl moment'?
"It is a system that turns every natural disaster into an even greater man-made catastrophe."
#OustDuterte trends as Filipinos criticize government's response to the coronavirus
"How to prevent Corona Virus? 1. Proper hygiene 2. Stay indoors as much as possible 3. Use face masks daily 4. #OustDuterte"
A rash of ‘travel bans’ as the Caribbean gets serious about coronavirus
Several Caribbean territories, including Jamaica, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Dominica, and Trinidad and Tobago, have imposed travel bans to and from China.
Semi-quarantined: Living with the coronavirus outbreak in Hong Kong
"The park is half-empty, but we have decided to let our daughter enjoy a few hours of daily sunshine. We are determined not to let ourselves be overwhelmed by fear."
Public outcry over Wuhan coronavirus leads to blame game in China
Despite Beijing's claims, the central government bears significant responsibility for the mismanagement of crucial information in the early stages of the coronavirus outbreak.
Coronavirus death of whistleblower Li Wenliang sets Chinese social media on fire
The manipulation around his death became obvious. Li Wenliang became an icon as people have come to see his life and death as a reflection of their own fate.
The battle of numbers in the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak
Several medical and academic institutions have run models on the Wuhan coronavirus, and all conclude the real figures - of infected and killed victims - are much higher than the official figure.
Chen Qiushi: A citizen journalist on the frontline of the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak
Chen risks his life by reporting from the center of the epidemic outbreak in Wuhan. He vowed to stand with Wuhan people by bearing witness to the situation inside the quarantined city.
7 reasons Hongkongers are angry about the government response to the coronavirus
The spread of the virus has caused panic around the city, with residents stockpiling surgical masks and food.
Pakistani students under lockdown in Wuhan are appealing for assistance
Since the outbreak of the novel coronavirus, nearly 500 Pakistani students studying in China's Hubei province are under lockdown; their government has not yet decided to bring them back home.
Chinese patriots retaliate online after Danish outlet spoofs Chinese ‘virus flag’
To China's dismay, Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen commented on the incident by defending the country’s tradition of free speech.