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Countries such as South Korea, which have been successful in getting the virus under control, have had good success with contact tracing and quarantines.

Some countries are beginning to lift restrictions, trying to find a balance between reopening society and the economy while not triggering a resurgence in cases.

Kindergarten and primary schools in Denmark were gradually reopening starting this week, but bars and restaurants remain closed for now.

Germany is planning to allow some businesses to reopen next week, including small shops, car dealerships and bookstores. Schools will reopen May 4 for students in their final year of high school or primary school.

But Singapore, which had checked the spread of the virus, recently had to reinstitute restrictions because of a surge in cases.

U.S. President Donald Trump has been keen to reopen the world’s largest economy, but some states, including hard-hit New York, have resisted, maintaining restrictions until May.

An analysis by the Business Council of B.C. said the province’s economy could suffer its biggest drop in 70 years if the pandemic lingers.

A report Friday by the Macdonald-Laurier Institute, a think-tank in Ottawa, says policy-makers and economist have vastly underestimated the costs of restrictions across Canada on jobs, incomes and long-term government debt.

UBC epidemiologist Daniel Coombs said the B.C. modelling and modelling in other jurisdictions, including in France and Israel, show that any easing of restrictions should be done gradually.

Coombs, who is working with others on modelling the epidemic in B.C., said it’s important to remember that not many people have been exposed to the virus in B.C., so the population remains susceptible.

“The scientific take on this is to ease back a little bit and hopefully nothing terrible happens — and then maybe you can ease back a little bit more as the summer goes along,” said Coombs.

He said B.C. will be able to learn from Denmark and Germany as they try to reopen parts of their society as the province had learned from Italy and China.

ghoekstra@postmedia.com

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