“[South Korea’s] extensive testing is a very valuable tool to both control the virus and understand and measure the effectiveness of the responses that are taking place,” says Michael Mina, assistant professor at the Center for Communicable Disease Dynamics at Harvard University. “It’s allowed individuals to take matters into their own hands and make social distancing decisions on their own, both to protect those around them and to protect themselves from those who are infected around them.”

The Korean public has been practicing social distancing in many ways before KCDC recommended it in March 1st. People may have been extra cautious because of their past experiences with several respiratory diseases, such as SARS in 2003.

Korea was one of the first countries to be affected by Covid-19 this year, which is unsurprising given the nation’s high rate of trade with China. Many business and personal meetings were cancelled, and schools and universities postponed a new semester and transitioned to remote learning. Ordinary citizens avoided crowded spaces, such as theaters and museums, while big weddings and funerals were postponed.