By Munmun Majumdar
As a teacher teaching International Politics I have often been confronted with students asking me “Ma’am will we see another world war?” Who could have thought then that it would take a virus to make the entire humankind to come to a grinding halt and that the nature of the war that human being would be waging would be against an invisible enemy. The outbreak of the novel Coronavirus or COVID-19 reportedly started in December 2019 in Wuhan, the capital of Hubei province, China.The deadly Covid-19 is a highly contagious virus with an unpredictable profile. On 30 January 2020, the World Health Organisation (WHO) had declared it as a “Public Health Emergency of International Concern.” The surprise rise of infections in such a short span of time is testament to the mounting challenges in global containment efforts. So far, COVID-19 has already surpassed SARS infected cases and death toll, all within a shorter time frame.
Undoubtedly the economic fall out of this is immense. While the food industry is likely to get back on rails soon it is the other sectors such as travel and tourism, and those relying on foreign demand and are well integrated in to the global supply chains, which can see devastating effect. These players in turn may lobby the authorities to craft policy measures to fulfill their needs and interests. For instance, tourism companies may press the governments to help them.What this global contagion has exacerbated uncertainties in the world economy, tempting investors to reassess risks and companies to adopt a wait-and-see approach. While it is too early to predict the final outcome in precise terms, the discipline of Political Economy can help us roughly assess how policies will likely turn out to be.
The human cost is however,far too much to see it merely in terms of economic profit and loss in what is shaping up to be a long fight for the global community. Undoubtedly fear and anxiety are natural human reactions at times like this but it is important to recognize that panic can do more harm than the virus itself. It is indeed a time to test the social resilience that refers to a society’s ability to collectively tolerate, absorb, cope with, and adjust to threats of various kinds resulting from such challenges.
In March 2020, the International atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) announced that it would provide diagnostic kits equipment and training in nuclear-derived detection technique for any member states requesting support as they grapple with the spread of COVID-19. The nuclear-derived diagnostic technique, known as Real-Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), can help detect the novel coronavirus accurately within hours in humans, as well as in animals that may also host it. While the IAEA is a specialist body with expertise in nuclear technology for peace and development, it does not have a broad mandate on health. It does, however, have the mandate and capability to transfer technology to help save lives. For instance, the IAEA responded quickly to the Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014 through providing nuclear-derived diagnostic kits and laboratory supplies for use in the field. The IAEA cooperates with the WHO and other key partners to assess the current level of knowledge about COVID-19, identify gaps and work, where it can contribute, in the multilateral approach to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.
While this nuclear-derived technique highlights the peaceful application of nuclear science may be a promising method, whether India would be able to make it affordable to its citizens to benefit from nuclear technology applications in disease surveillance and prevention is something that we will have to wait and see.
One pressing question that stands out is how would countries cope? COVID-19 became recognised as a pandemic. The Indian Government’s call for a countrywide total lockdown and directive to stay indoors is an extraordinary call. But extraordinary times require extraordinary policy actions.Complete lock down, banning travel, expanding the testing capability to diagnose more potential COVID-19 patients are constructive measures, it is preparedness, awareness and precaution that are extremely crucial.
The concern arising of the lockdown and the risk of unbalanced nutrition occurring has been mitigated with the Government’s reassurances of adequate stock and essential supplies. This has come as a great a confidence boosting measure more so since adequate nutrition to meet the body’s needs for vitamins, minerals etc. is required to combat the deadly virus. What is important is that no one should indulge in either panic buying or in hoarding. This is the time when the entire community must learn to share and care. The more community participates to deal effectively with the crisis the more chances we have, of coming out of these difficult times of public health emergency successfully.
Without triggering public panic or spreading false notions of cure, distasteful social behavior etc. the Government of the day is trying its best to raise public awareness, keep the public updated on the latest outbreak information and combat rumors and fake news. Communication software that provides daily tips for do’s and don’ts to subscribers are seemingly effective is raising the level of awareness. It would do well for India to emulate Singapore, which has a zero-tolerance approach to any breaches of the measures it has put in place. Charges may be imposed for giving false information and obstructing contact tracing.
Since India has a large population who are not able to afford medical assistance at the best of times, there are serious doubts about the ability of public health systems in the remote and more populous states to manage a crisis situation such as this one. Again, much of the economic activity in India is carried out by migrant labors that do not have proper houses and very often live in makeshift and crowded accommodation. They do not have either employment or health insurance. They are the ones who are most vulnerable. In such a situation containment of a pandemic of this nature is the best way out. As such frequent washing of hands and social distancing becomes an important Mantra to prevent the spread COVID-19 pandemic.
According to certain experts virus cannot continue to thrive in high temperatures. If this comes true for Corona as well, then the onset of the Indian summer will be welcomed like never before. As for now, the COVID-19 will continue to test the country’s resilience and social cohesion. At a time of heightened stress, we must on our part heed to the several Union and State government advisory warnings of the dangers and suggested ways and means to prevent its spread. Controlling a pandemic, which knows no borders is a challenge. Therefore it is all the more important for a coordinated approach and think ahead to make through the COVID-19 pandemic. Only then can we win this global war.
The author is Professor, Dept. of Political Science, North-Eastern Hill University, Shillong