Two continents, one coronavirus time bomb

Zack, Jenn, and Alex talk about the coronavirus situation in sub-Saharan Africa and South America, two regions that have so far been mostly spared the worst of the virus. They explain why experts say there could soon be major outbreaks on both continents, and discuss the structural reasons why the social distancing policies that have helped slow the spread of the disease in Asia, Europe, and the US may not be feasible in Africa and South America.

References:

Alex has stories on how the coronavirus will affect sub-Saharan Africa and South America.

It’s worth understanding the crisis in Guayaquil, Ecuador.

Richer countries are outbidding poorer ones on resources to combat the coronavirus, the New York Times reports.

Politico notes that African countries want debt relief so they can focus on public health programs.

The Guardian has an important story on the tough choices facing poor families in Latin America.

Hosts:

Zack Beauchamp (@zackbeauchamp), senior correspondent, Vox

Jennifer Williams (@jenn_ruth), senior foreign editor, Vox

Alex Ward (@AlexWardVox), national security reporter, Vox

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