Virus controls a blessing — and a curse
The novel coronavirus has passed a grim milestone, killing more people than died in the 2002-2003 Sars outbreak. On Sunday, the death toll rose to more than 810, compared to the 774 deaths globally for Sars. Most deaths have been in mainland China.
Unlike Sars, which was recorded in 26 countries over a nine-month period, these deaths have occurred in a month. Yet the World Health Organisation says the fatality rate is about 2 per cent compared to Sars’ 9.6 per cent. A WHO team is heading to China to investigate.
Sunday’s total of 2655 new cases was down on the 3400 for the previous day, hopefully a sign the virus is slowing.
Despite the unprecedented and draconian measures to contain it, about 37,000 people in China have been infected. And despite screening and quarantines being thrown up, 288 cases have reached 24 countries.
The outbreak raises questions about how ready countries are to deal with medical emergencies.
China’s centralised, heavily-controlled, system has allowed authorities to impose mass lockdowns on millions of people — unimaginable in other countries.
Al Jazeera reports that at a hospital in Guangdong, robots are being used to deliver food and medicine to patients and to collect bedsheets and rubbish. At a quarantined hotel in Hangzhou, a robot carries meals to rooms.
But it has also meant developments more akin to wartime — various companies across China have converted into manufacturers of masks and protective suits.
Though that could be seen as positive collective action, the rules governing the outbreak have become increasingly dark.
People in Beijing who don’t comply with rules about masks, reporting symptoms or having contact with an infected person risk being arrested. People in Shanghai have to wear masks in public places and co-operate with temperature checks at hospitals, transport hubs and shopping centres.
Conditions in China, such as reported shortages of protective gear in hospitals and clinics and the eating of wildlife, are a particular coronavirus vulnerability.
Other countries have issued travel alerts, organised evacuation flights from China and instituted two-week quarantine periods. France closed two schools. In the most high-profile case, 64 cases have been reported on a quarantined cruise ship in Japan with 3700 passengers and crew.
As with China, but on a small scale, authorities elsewhere have been quick to shut down and contain in response to the outbreak.
Chinese officials have had a multitude of extra problems to deal with, including keeping food supplies open to cities despite controls over access.
There have been social concerns ranging from panic buying of goods, fears of outsiders spreading infection in some areas and anger over the treatment and death of whistleblower doctor Li Wenliang.