Since the start of the pandemic, countries around the world enacted response policies with varying degrees of stringency. While Argentina, for example, rapidly instituted a strict lockdown in alignment with the World Health Organization’s recommendations, the autocratic ruler of Belarus denied the mere existence of the virus and never imposed any restrictions at all. As expected, the curve of case counts in both countries are reflective of these policy decisions.

In addition, while some countries have remained relatively steady in their policies, like Sweden, others, like Croatia, have made dramatic fluctuations in their response, inciting confusion and anger from the public. Even more, many Croatians are now becoming concerned about human rights, democratic controls, and constitutional safeguards in the country, in light of government action in response to COVID-19 — action which has been characterized by tumultuous policy-making without clear linkages to evidence and data. Check out the Institute for Development Impact’s COVID-19 Weekly Watch to learn more, as we spotlight COVID-19 in Croatia and global coronavirus response policies