Covid-۱۹, rigorous restrictions or wrong decisions

۳۱ December ۲۰۱۹, the World Health Organisation (WHO) first reported the presence of an unknown virus causing pneumonia-like symptoms in Wuhan (WHO Coronavirus Disease (Covid-۱۹) Dashboard, ۲۰۲۰; Williams & Kayaoglu, ۲۰۲۰). Initially, views of the relatively unknown virus suggested it was not a threat nor a public health emergency. However, over the past two years, the Covid-۱۹ has become the most critical issue across the globe killing millions of people and damaging the global economy. The countries took vastly different measures to combat the spread of infection, based on a wide range of considerations, approaches, policies and strategies; some were precise and timely, while others were vague and delayed (with dire consequences). To explore this topical direction of research, one of Hofstede's cultural dimensions (individualism/collectivism), the Edelman Trust Barometer and the number of Covid-۱۹ confirmed cases to population ratios from WHO had been considered. Trust Barometer offers insight into levels of trust based on three categories: ۱. Trust=۶۰-۱۰۰%; ۲. Neutral=۵۰-۵۹%; and ۳. Distrust=۰-۴۹%. Considering the relationship between Covid-۱۹ confirmed cases to population ratios based on Coronavirus, WHO provides various daily statistics for all countries and the political trust scores (i.e. trust in government) are based on the ۲۰۲۰ Edelman Trust Barometer report. By considering Hofstede's cultural dimension, countries with higher (lower) trust and lower (higher) infection rates tend to be collectivist (individualist) societies. Moreover, the examples appear mixed for neutral trust countries considering infection rates. However, the cultural dimension rate seems to moderate the relationship between infection rate and political trust such that the infection rate is lower for countries with lower individualism. Concerning the level of trust that populations have in their government, the rate of respecting the Covid restrictions are proven that controlling the virus spread was successful or not. Governments that projected a very clear message from the country's critical situation saw people trusted and reacted accordingly, while in other countries, confusing messages caused catastrophic results. Taking numerous factors into consideration (i.e. vigorous large-scale testing or strict lockdowns, and other means of controlling), evaluating the level of success in controlling the spread of Covid-۱۹, preliminary results suggest countries with high political trust, lower rates of individualism, and those governments that disseminate clear messages, citizens will more likely support the Covid restrictions and hence, the spread of the virus and its significant negative health implications may be better contained. Three research propositions evolved by considering the mentioned factors: Research Proposition ۱: there is a positive correlation between trust in government and a country's infection rate due to a pandemic. Research Proposition ۲: cultural differences moderates the relationship between trust in government and infection rates. Research Proposition ۳: messages of clarity moderate the relationship between trust in government and infection rates such that the countries with a clear message show lower infection rates.

Keywords:

collectivism , Covid-۱۹ , individualism , infection rate , political trust