As India COVID-19 cases cross the 3-lakh mark, GoNews’ Editor-in-chief Pankaj Pachauri gives an overview of five of the worst-hit nations — US, Brazil, Russia, India and UK — which are ruled by five 'strongmen' leaders and account for more than half of the world's coronavirus cases and death toll.

The five nations are the worst hit by the #CoronaPandemic because their leaders failed them. And how China escaped the worst?

From January 2020 to June 2020, the average COVID-19 deaths reported was 185 whereas, in India, over 300 deaths are being reported on average every day. The curve of virus deaths in China was on a decline first but registered a sudden spike when figures were being added from Wuhan city.

Statistics show that Hubei province, which was worst-hit by the virus, had reported a total of 4,512 deaths, and only 133 COVID-19 deaths were reported from outside Hubei, that is, from rest of China.

This is what US President Donald Trump had said on February 11, 2020, ahead of his visit to India:

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro had said that 'he can't work miracles' as he dismissed media questions about the country's rising coronavirus numbers.

Another 'strongman' leader Vladimir Putin, Russia's President, had invited people to cast their vote on constitutional changes amid the pandemic:

Meanwhile, India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi had likened the COVID-19 battle to 'Mahabharata' battle.

'Mahabharata won in 18 days, battle against coronavirus will take 21 days', PM Modi had said.

Whereas UK's Prime Minister Boris Johnson continued shaking hands despite the scientists calling an end to hugging and handshakes. Later, he was diagnosed with the novel Coronavirus. 

Interestingly, this is what the Chinese president, Xi Jinping, had in the middle of the Coronavirus outbreak. 'People, response, and confidence' were the keywords from his remark on January 27.