When I looked at the stats for countries being hit with this pandemic, it struck me as surprising that the number of cases/deaths due to COVID-19, in some places, did not correlate proportionately with the level of population.
It would be easy to assume hygiene levels and santization practices might be lower in underdeveloped countries, as compared to say, Australia. And that spread of disease would be faster. In countries with higher levels of health care, the contagion might have been anticipated to be slower. This does not appear to be the cases if you look at the current statistics. Places like Malaysia and Thailand, are doing remarkably well, with a small number of COVID-19 cases, in regions with populations far greater than others. Why? Is it their level of preventative measures?
Why is Covid-19 so prevalent in Italy?
Then there is Italy – why do they have so many COVID-19 cases? Some suggest that many Chinese and other businessmen, have been visiting the north of Italy, in greater numbers of recent times.
Singapore
Singapore, to its immense credit, appears to be managing the crisis well. They were well prepared, quickly instituting pro-active measures after having previously learnt valuable lessons in pandemic management, during the SARS outbreak.
A New World Order?
The current crisis highlights just how connected and how vulnerable we, as a society are. Our financial and business sectors, recreation and travel mean a contagion can and does travel fast and far, throughout the entire world. Not even in a small village in Iceland are you safe, from this virus. Whether we care to admit it or night, we do live in a global village. We can no longer live and conduct affairs without considering the rest of the world.
The economies of the Western developed countries are suffering, just as China is beginning to recover. Many Western democracies, including mine, will inevitably head into a deep economic recession, in coming months. We need to have in place new and different strategies and policies for business, health care, education and technology in order to appropriately respond to this contagion.
Some Chinese communities are questioning whether they should move back to China, from their new bases in Italy.
The social fallout from this virus also highlights the disparity between European countries, with high levels of health care against the economic might of America, who has almost no universal health care.
I wonder why Universities and Schools are only now moving to E-learning in response to the viral threat.
Climate Conspiracy?
If I believed in conspiracy theories, which I don’t, my cynical self would also suggest that the release of the virus, if it was deliberate, is a discrete way to circumvent and divert debate and action, on action against climate change.
Continuing and ever increasing school strikes successfully highlighted issues of climate change. Now that schools are closed in many countries, except Australia, the strikes cannot happen.
Moreover, we cannot gather in groups of more than 100 in Australia. Some countries ban gatherings of less than 50, and in Portugal, gatherings must be less than 5 persons.
Food and Job Security
Adding to this, is the issue of global food security. The shops across the world are emptying, and people are staying home, for the most part. Food is becoming harder to obtain. If transport is halted, how do we all access food?
Many have already lost their employment or will lose it in coming months. Many will become homeless or develop mental health issues.
A Positive Effect
If there is one positive to be found in self-imposed isolation or government quarantine and in business shut-down and potential failure, it is that some parts of the planet and nature, get a break from human intervention and destruction.
- Global rain forests may not get burnt this week.
- Fewer carbon emissions from reduced transport services.
- That precious koala habitat may not get cleared/logged this week.
- Industries may refrain from discharging their poisonous effluent into the sea this week, due to shutdowns.
- People may re-discover making ends meet – growing their own food, cooking for themselves, entertaining at home, chatting with family.
TECHIE'S SCRIBBLING 