China’s virus not well handled by political powers.

Jan 27, 2020 Editorial

Coronavirus is rising dread across the globe, like its predecessors SARS and Ebola. Those two also hailed from distant parts of an increasingly interlinked world of continuous movements of peoples crisscrossing from here to there in ongoing repetitions. In this instance, and unlike before, the Chinese authorities have been the beneficiaries of some recognition and praise for being responsive, and somewhat transparent.
But have they done so to a great enough degree? Did they really go all out to confront and control, such that they could, the outbreak of this latest threat that inflicts fears and anxieties? And with what an apprehensive world has been given, does this lead to comforting and confidence? What about us here in Guyana, are we satisfied and what does it mean for us in a society with still limited resources and expertise?
The answers to most of those questions is an alarming No! For according to an article in the Wall Street Journal of January 24 titled “China’s coronavirus response is questioned: everyone was blindly optimistic.” To this paper “blindly optimistic” sounds like gambling through taking chances, when more careful and sensible, if not practical, approaches were called for, but not delivered. Recognition is given to the fact that “Beijing made the unprecedented decision to lock down the city of 11 million people.” That would be Wuhan where many had gathered to usher in the Chinese New Year of the Rat.
Criticism has been leveled, and it is not unjustified, that the priority of powerful officials in the Chinese Communist Party was on pomp and ceremony, at the expense of precautionary safety measures that would have been more protective and the first steps in commonsense defensive decisions. To assemble a huge mass of people exponentially increased the risk of infection and spread, which raises the reasonable position that the celebration exposed people to unnecessary risks and that what followed may be too late, resulting in too little.
From various corners, criticisms have been leveled at Chinese overlords that they were “overly optimistic” and the Mayor of Wuhan, Zhou Xianwang, went on China Central Television to opine that those in charge at the local level “were not alert enough.” That is not surprising, given awareness in Chinese society of where orders and expectations come from, what makes for good comrades, if not better theater, and what must be done, if one desires to remain in the political power milieu. It is delivering or departing, just do as normal to please the bosses, with the pieces picked up later.
The reports from medical authorities are that person to person contact increases “potential danger.” Further, the leader of a responding medical team indicated that, “more than one dozen medical staff had contracted the virus from one patient.” That is frightening in its implications. And the reasonable have to wonder, how much the Chinese are sharing, since an information lockdown has since been enforced.
While the main worry is on the possible medical exposures, the New York Times called attention to a different concern, through an article captioned, “How China’s virus outbreak could threaten the global economy” (January 23). The Times did note that the disease has put a damper on the outlook for the Chinese economy, which is the second largest in the world, and where a slowdown could have serious repercussions across an interconnected world. As the Times pointed out, “the Chinese economy has for years been one of the world’s most powerful growth engines. A stumble in China could hobble jobs and growth elsewhere.” In addition to the medical trepidations, this is a sobering reminder of what is involved.
In view of all these discomforting developments, as to what was done or not done in China, the spread of the problem to over half of the globe, the risk of infection should trouble ordinary Guyanese. What do we know, and what can our medical controllers do to protect us? What more do our government and responsible professionals need to know to develop a robust plan to safeguard us?
On Sunday, the media carried reassurances from Guyanese officials that this country is prepared and ready. Time will tell, since viruses, unlike hurricanes, do not change course.

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