COVID-19
EDITORIAL VIEW
COVID-19
The world is going through tough times like never before in history. What started like a rumour in Wuhan-China has graduated to a “world pandemic” as declared by the World Health Organisation (WHO). Coronavirus has held the world to a standstill. In fact, it is right to say that the world is gradually receding to some stages never imagined in the 21st century human history.
As at 5th April, 2020, 1, 285, 257cases have been confirmed globally, with over 70,000 deaths recorded. America has the highest number of cases of people who tested positive. This is one virus too many in the history of mankind.
Well, this virus started in a country competing for the best economy in the world China; a consternation of people from over the world gather in China for business tourism and so, it was easy to transport the disease from that Asian Tiger to other parts of the globe. It started in Wuhan, spread to other parts of China and became a national emergency as declared by that country’s President Xi Jinping. Remarkably, the health policy was activated to the highest level with the building of the historic medical facilities less than two weeks to contain the situation. Yes, the situation was arrested and the rate is going down, with production in major companies gradually picking up to the hitherto lockdown, though visitors are still bound from entering China.
In Africa, the virus was transported by people who had contact with positive cases in Asia, Europe and America. As at 1st April, 2020, over 5000 cases were confirmed in Africa with 232 of these cases in Nigeria. Officially, five persons have been confirmed dead. These include ex Managing Director of Pipelines and Products Marketing Company (PPMC), 68 year old Suleiman Achimugu has died of the virus, two weeks after returning from hospital tourism in the United Kingdom and another nameless victim who authorities said has a depleting health condition. The index case, an Italian has since recovered and is discharged along over 20 others.
Notably, some renowned Nigerians have tested positive to Covid19. These are Chief of Staff to Nigeria’s President, Abba Kyari, Bauchi and Kaduna states governors Bala Mohammed and Nasir el Rufai, Atiku Abubakar’s son, Comptroller of Immigration Mohammed Babandede and others. These are cases announced officially, though there are fears that some highly placed persons might be hiding in self isolation as certain faces have suddenly disappeared from public view.
Regrettably, the globe is shutdown; the socio-economic and political systems have been suspended to stop the spread of Covid19. Schools, markets, borders, churches and other public gatherings like burials and wedding ceremonies have been officially banned. Things are not the same again, up has become down and down has become up suddenly. Humanity is in pain and there is confusion in the air because no one knows tomorrow anymore, not while Covid19 lasts. In the first stanza of William Butler Yeats’ “The Second Coming:”
Turning and turning in the widening gyre
The Falcon cannot hear the falconer;
Things fall apart; the centre cannot hold;
Mere anarchy is loosed upon the world,
The blood-dimmed tide is loosed, and everywhere
The ceremony of innocence is drowned;
The best lack conviction, while the worst
Are full of passionate intensity.
In this SPECIAL EDITION, The Transmitter gathers the lamentations of global leaders in the face of COVID19. This is a pandemic with lessons for leaders who delight in pleasures in foreign land for education, hospital and other aspects of tourism. Everywhere is locked; there is no going out and there is no coming in. The situation is dire as no one can be trusted. Rare in history has worshiped centres been so affected.
It is worrisome though that some social media pundits are making jest of the situation. Insinuations like “it is the big man’s disease, it cannot come to the poor people” are all over the places. People in the hinterlands are saying that it is a disease for the town inhabitants. It is business boom for manufacturers and dealers in pharmaceuticals like alcoholic sanitizers and face masks.
However, we must understand that this is a desperate time that calls for desperate measures. COVID19 is real and spreads faster than one can imagine. At the moment, Word Health Organisation can confirm that there is no vaccine for the disease. The best way to stay safe is to stay home. This way, chances of contracting the virus can be minimized. The need to improve personal hygiene is also key as this has been neglected by most importantly Africans. There is a popular say that “hygiene has no effect in Africa.”
All said, world leaders have continued the search for solution to contain the surge. Scientists are busy in research centres in search of a vaccine. But while that lasts, everyone must guard against this virus. The whole world is in an emergency and everyone must wake up to the business of protection.
