Why are you surprised? Numerous places have had success with social distancing. Duterte was smart enough to close the schools on March 9. Meanwhile Cuomo the govenor of New York state in the US did not close the schools until March 18. https://cnnphilippines.com/news/2020/3/9/Duterte-class-suspension-Metro-Manila-coronavirus-.html https://www.governor.ny.gov/news/go...ive-order-closing-schools-statewide-two-weeks Furthermore, the US is only now considering limiting domestic flights. Duterte did that weeks ago. https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/poli...e-coronavirus-pandemic/ar-BB122IWl?li=BBnb7Kz Getting an early start makes a big difference when it grows exponentially.
I'm not discounting social distancing. It's exactly the density of people that makes social distancing a challenge. See image below.
