Copenhagen, Toronto Top Chart Of ‘World’s Safest’ Cities Post-Pandemic
Image ID 158660520 © via Oksana Saman | Dreamstime.com
Every year, we see lists of “top places to live,” which feature picturesque cityscapes around the globe. This year, the criteria may look a little different, considering how much the pandemic has disrupted life as we know it. Major cities have been hard-hit by COVID-19, with many restaurants, attractions, and landmarks shutting down.
In the Economist’s 2021 Safe Cities Index, which ranks places worldwide based on 76 different safety indicators, five cities have come out tops. Researchers look at a location’s infrastructure, digital, personal, and environmental safety, and of course, now that it’s more relevant than ever, the level of healthcare available.
Copenhagen topped the chart, followed by Toronto, Singapore, Sydney, and Tokyo.
The world leader, Denmark’s capital, scored high on the index’s environmentally security metric, which looks into sustainability measures undertaken by a city, including its air quality, waste management systems, and natural preservation. Plus, the city has launched a free COVID-19 testing program, which is open to both residents and tourists.
In second place is Canada’s largest city, Toronto. According to the BBC, the city racked up points in the infrastructure and environmental categories, with residents saying an inclusive community culture helped with vaccine adoption measures. Programs were set up to vaccinate residents who couldn’t leave their homes, and standards were implemented to ensure vaccine rollout took an equity-based approach.
Singapore, the third overall, came in second in the sectors of digital, health, and infrastructure security. It was one of the first cities to start digital monitoring and contact tracing during the pandemic, and boasts one of the world’s highest vaccination rates. Residents have all been given a tracking token, allowing authorities to track down individuals who may have come into contact with an infectious patient.
Australia’s largest city Sydney came in fourth, with it being ranked number one in digital security. Researchers found that its privacy policy, cybersecurity measures, and smart city plans were excellent, with its Smart City strategic framework recommending the best practices for a safer community. Its population is nearly 70% vaccinated, and the city is expected to reopen its borders sometime soon.
Japan’s capital of Tokyo rounded off the top five cities on the list. It ranks first for the health security category, with the best offerings for universal healthcare, pandemic preparedness, life expectancy, mental health, and lower COVID-19 mortality. Plus, as of the end of September, the country has ended its state of emergency and lifted restrictions for residents. The city is also known for its incredible infrastructure, and functions as a walkable city with rail as the main transport option for longer trips.
Admittedly, the perception of the most liveable places in the world has certainly changed, in no small part due to the chaos caused by COVID-19. However, it does highlight the best locations in the world where one can be safer, healthier, and live a more productive life.
[via BBC, cover image Oksana Saman | Dreamstime.com]
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