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COViD19's worldwide reach has not only changed societies and hospital operations keep people alive while they recover from the virus, it has also been declared as a war against humanity. This is not the first time, a microspic threat has been called a war both figuratively and physically. Cartoon by Khalil Bendib
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The Coronavirus or COVID19 is squeezing the world as it seems to jump from one continent to the next. The microsopic menance has been labeled as public enemy number 1. Most governments' response has been to declare war on the invisible enemy. The virus has attacked both the poor and rich. The United States along with the other Western countries have been facing the highest numbers of cases and deaths. There are now over 638,148+ cases worldwide (previously 560,000 when the article was originally written) and with 32, 000 deaths the highest being in Italy, Spain, United States and previously China. Keep in mind this is the third manifestation of the novel coronavirus. The symptoms shortness of breath, compressed lungs and thin air breathing and pains from COVID19 are similiar to pneuomonia. It is also likely similiar to SARS and was originally named SARS 2. While the virus strain had led to death before once again SARS and MRES (Middle East Respiratory Syndrome), it hasn't killed as many people at the rate of Coronavirus. Many people who tested positive have survived the virus infection including 101 year old Italian man born during the 1918 Flu Pandemic and a 90 year old woman.
Call the Navy, retired doctors, triaging the hospitals into a virus free zone
The virus has also exposed how ill equip and crumbling the health sector in American society is. Already suffering from a failing healthcare system compared to other developed countries, most Americans are experiencing some of the inaccessibility to life saving and preventive healthcare that many citizens in the developing world face. Most of the hospitals, clinics in New York City, LA, Dallas, and across many states have transformed their emergency rooms and icu units into triage centers. Central Park, Jarvits convention Center, New Rochelle center have been transformed into non Coronavirus patient field hospitals for people in need of urgent care. Oddly enough, Samitarian's Purse, the famed NGO used to operating health and education projects in Asian and African countries is now providing medical aid within the United States. Its home headquarters is in North Carolina. It's also telling how many doctors, nurses, EMTS are now refered to in the mainstream media as soldiers on the frontlines and the fight against Corona is now seen as a war. Trump has crownd himself as a "wartime president." Also aiding New Yorkers, Californians being the two most populated states in the U.S. alongside Texas, is recieving help from the U.S. Navy in the form of two navy hospital sea crafts: the USS Comfort to New York and the USS Mercy to LA. The last time navy hospitals were used for civilian population on U.S. shores was during Septcenter 11th attacks in 2001. The older generation and historians will remember the floating hospitals used during World War I and II. The thousands of hospitals are adjusting to the rise in cases and deaths. Thousands of retired doctors have been asked to volunteer to aid in the influx of COVID19 patients and other severe cases. Even the student doctors, EMTS and nurses are being rushed into service by their medical schools across the country.
About those spantenous healthworker balconey applauses across the world
Deaths from the Covid19 in Africa still remains minimal so far compared to Europe and US while Asia appears to be slowing down especially in South Korea and China. Some 25 African countries have reported cases such as Morocco, Algeria, Liberia, Egypt, Nigeria, Ivory Coast, Sudan and South Africa. The mentioned countries have imposed travel restrictions, are under quarantine including citizens in their homes and keeping schools close for the time being. Having face regional pandemics before ie Ebola, West African countries in particular are prepared to face rising cases and are prepping the health system for any potential case overloads. Most airports have been closed to flights entering and departing the countries. Interestingly the Coronavirus spread was started by an Italian who arrived on a flight at Lagos. The Italian later tested positive for the virus and later recovered. The Nigerian government has since locked down the largest metropolis city Lagos.
Both South Korean and Chinese governments took harsh measures to quarantine, isolate and some cases weld people shut in their own houses as in China to halt the spread of the virus. Not to mention set up thousands of checkpoints around large metropolises with millions of people to take temperatures and have drive thru Corona checks for ordinary Koreans and Chinese people. China has seen new cases of Coronavirus drop significantly since its own quarantines has even reopen parks and some public buildings but cautious of the virus still lingering. Italy has had the highest number of Coronavirus cases over the past two weeks since quarantine began. It has also witnessed the largest number of deaths in Lombardy region in Northern Italy in towns such as Parma, Venice, Bergamo, Codogno, etc. Also keep in mind that Italy has one of the largest elderly populations in Europe. Like all Western countries, Italy's population is aging rapidally alongside Japan and Germany. The financial markets have been turned off by the rising coronavirus cases and causaulities. The world economy is headed for a depression not only a recesison after its three year bear market streak began dropping once Coronavirus spread across the U.S. Wall Street for the first time in its history had to be closed so the investors, traders could work from home. Even though the DOW has gone back up to 20,000 down from nearly 30,000 points, it could drop even after the $2 trillion stimulus package was passed by Congress. Remeber, financial markets prefer and like predictability. The Nikkei, HK stock exchange have also gone up. Traders aren't used to being in an uncontrollable crisis especially a global health scare on this wide scale.
The travel business has suffered the most as most people can't fly and most people would be terrified of even attempting to stand in a crowded airport under self isolation. Cruise ships ie Carnival, Norwegian Cruise Line, Princess cruises, Holland America, Costa, have been trying unsuccessfuly to lure loyal members and customers back onto the high seas through email and print promotional cruises with a defeaning no thanks from customers. Tourism has also suffered the world over as major destinations and landmarks had to be shut down until futher notice. There are still cruise ships that are trapped at sea after many ports around the world refused the ships entry to dock. One cruise ship off the coast of the U.S. state of Florida is Holland America's Zandam. The ship's week long itinerary is part of the Patagonia port of call Buenos Aires and Santigo, Chile. Despite the warnings the ship's captain and apssengers were given by Holland America not to sail out of their Orlando Port as Coronavirus cases were rising in the United States in early March, the captain went ahead. This is despite the fact that the Florida Coast Guard warned the ship not to go. Now at sea since March 7th, the Zaandam has been strickened with COVID19 cases and the ship have been placed in quarantine while four people have passed away on the ship. Around 3 passengers have passed away rising panic among the passengers and crew. Another ship prevented from docking at Florida is the Oasis of the Sea, one of the largest ships in the world. Fourteen crew members of the Oasis
Environment is healing with the virus
One of the ironic positives of a third of the world being quarantine is that the environment around the world is actually healing after years of pollution. Satelittle imagery recorded that the usual damaging pollution and smog above the major Chinese cities ie Beijing, Shanghai, Shenzhen has been cleared and the air quality has improved significantly. On the island of Venice, the waterways of the famed canals have turned clear from its usual brown murky and fawl smell. Without the various boat buses, water taxis, fisherman boats, ships and cruise ships, dolphins and swans have actually returned to the Venice canals where both the animals were further out to sea. Animals have been given free reign by a few zoos in some cities to roam around resmnling the history channel documentary "Life after people."Fear of an apoclypse come to life
While the apoclypse has not happened and no there is no messiah coming to set the world in order, many Americans are panicking over the rising Corona cases and deaths within the U.S. After watching the infection rate and the deserted Italian, French and Chinese towns resembling a scene from a post apocolpytic movie or series, ordinary Americans have hauled tiolet paper off the shelves and stocked up on food for the beginning of a two week qurantine. The quarantine will likely be reset once the two weeks are up depending on the situation. So far the state governors across the U.S. have been stepping in on media to keep the rest of the country via TV and radio calm. Keeping the country calm in a time of crisis is usually the job of the president. But as the manchild in chief Trump refuses to acknowledge that the virus was serious and called it a "hoax and it will go away with warm weather," an exerggeration and a plot to make "the president look bad," the media pundits and journalists have turned to the state governors and a few mayors particulary Andrew Cuomo of New York state, Gavin Newsom of California, occassionally the Michigan governor Gretchen Whitmore for comfort themselves. The pundits and journalists are just as anxious and scared as the ordinary Americans are. Cuomo began New York state's quarantine in segements according to labor force. The first 25% of workers were told to self quarantine, than it was 50% and finally it went to a 100%. Than New York City last week was told to prepare for quarantine and isolation as well. Like other metropolis, the New Yorkers weren't having it with staying indoors or "shelter in places" in the beginning. Yes, getting the NY police to force people into their homes while keeping small businesses closed and limiting outdoor travel will not work in NYC the same way it did in China. People complained about the state denying their freedom of movement. Much like the Italians and other Eurpeans scoffed at the idea of using Chinese government style quarantine measures.
Cuomo's younger brother Christopher "Chris" Cuomo is CNN host for Cuomo Primetime. It's not coincidental that he has the media connection either. Chris Cuomo has also tested positive for Coronavirus and is self quaranting in his house. He still reports from his basement.
This throws the old American exceptionalism bragging right by the government and civilians to the rest of world that America is number 1 in healthcare (& everything else), has the best doctors and hospitals in the world. From the time most Americans are kids, socialized medicine (that varies and differs by country) is taught by parents and politicians as an unjust and frightening method of providing healthcare to a country's people. Despite the fact that most Americans are in dire need of immediate healthcare for all types of ailments that aren't covered by insurance. Having insurance also factors into rather a COVID19 patient or suspected case will recieve a ventilator for their severe symptoms. Sick people have to fight to recieve necessary long term treatments that politicians and wealthy people recieve without hesistation as money talks even in the health sector. This problem has existed long before Bernie Sanders ran for president and made it his rightoeous rallying cry. The disparity between the poor, middle class and the beaucoup wealthy and the kafkesque US insurance rules existed long before he was born.
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