There are theories that authoritarianregimes stop information from reaching to global community; like Amartya Senmentions that millions of starvation deaths in China got unreported in greatfamine 1959-61. And China repeated this mistake once again in take-off stage ofCOVID-19 by silencing professors, journalists and doctors who tried to sharecoronavirus outbreak without the consent of Chinese government. But whenChinese government realized the gravity of the problem, the measures they tookreally were appreciating and became an example for rest of the world to follow.
Hilary Brueck, et al., writing in BusinessInsider dated March 19, 2020 reveal that the quick action which China took wasbuilding of hospitals in days, rapid testing protocols and utilizing technologythat attempted to trace all 80,000 plus virus cases. In Chinese provinceGuangdong, which is 10 hours drive from Wuhan, 320,000 tests were conducted inthe clinics at the peak of the outbreak and only 0.47 percent were positive.They did not wait for selective tests but focused on broader option. Patients who were confirmed to have infectedwith virus were sent to isolation center or hospital. The government also madeclear that testing was free and COVID-19 charges that were not covered by aperson’s insurance would be paid for by the government.
No doubt democracies give wider freedom toan individual, but only liberty will not serve us unless and until we havestrong institutions which are ready to meet the seen and unforeseen challengesof humanity. Countries are in a race to fulfil national interests but fail tounderstand that investment in human security is key to success.
No country in the world was prepared forthis impending disaster even the superpower of the world the United States ofAmerica. The New York Times of 21st March reveals that in US, COVID-19 testingcapacity still lags far behind many other countries, public health laboratorieshave tested over 32,824 specimens across the US. While as South Korea, which isjust one-sixth of the size of USA, more than 3 lakh tests have been conductedso far. The medical officials in a number of states in USA warn of dwindlingsupplies of crucial gear, like protective equipment, and what they believe willbe vast demand of ventilators.
The world should be thankful that they gotan opportunity and early warning by Wuhan experience and the methodology whichChinese adopted without any vaccine. The immediate lockdown and cooperation ofpeople to stay indoors and managing resources in establishing special hospitalsin minimum possible time. Theysacrificed their economic resources to save their people and not allowed tomove them out which could have been catastrophic for whole world. Sometimescurtailment of freedom is in the larger good of humanity. They identified theinfected, isolated them and then were referred to hospitals.
World got almost two and half months tobrace up for overcoming the challenges of COVID-19. But unfortunately, by thenit had consumed thousands of lives. In some countries like India, peoplesuspected to be COVID-19 infected escaped from hospitals, boarded trains andairlines thus becoming active agents. This needs to be researched that why theyescaped from such quarantine centers. Were they not hygienic and equipped withthe modern facilities or they were just afraid of staying long in thesecenters?
My hypothesis is that it is not onlyresources which a state can rely on in any exigency like this but it depends onhow much a state has invested in health care system over the years, andchalking out immediate strategy and then giving it practical shape. Had India,the USA, Italy and Iran emulated Chinese methodology in overcoming this tide,perhaps bit late. By now people in India or elsewhere realized the cost ofcorona virus scare, they will humbly follow the directions of authorities. Thegovernments need to take welfare measures to feed those who were dependent onearnings of daily livelihood. After all life is more important, people for thetime being will face brunt of economic crisis but should not put themselves torisk of losing their lives.
Emergent situations like this needextraordinary measures and what can be these measures. Some of them are asfollows:
Immediate lockdown; It should be curfewlike situation
Testing to be done at large scale level,which will help in identifying pockets, wherever it is more prevalent and takenecessary measures.
Establishing more labs and procurement ofall necessary kits for conducting of such tests
Society as whole has responsibility inidentifying such infected persons and people should cooperate with health careinstitutions.
Pumping more money and if government isdeficient in funds, take immediate measures for compulsory donations fromgovernment employees, business class, corporate sector etc.
Use of disposable cups, plates in allrestaurants, dhabas, and in hospitals for at least one-month period.
Augmenting current health care facilitiesand establishing temporary hospitals with facilities of laser thermometers,masks, x-ray machines, ventilators and other relevant medical equipments.
The message is simple; be prepared, andsave humanity from the jaws of death.
Dr. Mohammed Yousuf Bhat is AssistantProfessor, Higher Education, J&K