Chinese virus and royals for rent
WITH news of the spread of a new coronavirus in China, the papers argued for more preventative measures, not panic. And there was – yet another – word of warning for Prince Harry as he embarks upon a new life in Canada.
The Guardian
The paper’s leader column argued that the story of the new coronavirus, first reported in Wuhan, China, last month, “now seems to be reaching the point where public indifference tips into worry and even fear”.
So far, nine people have died and more than 400 have been infected as it spreads. On
Monday, officials confirmed it had now reached human-to-human transmission.
“Sales of face masks have soared,” the paper reported.
“Today, the World Health Organisation will hold an emergency meeting.”
The paper said two factors were fuelling anxieties – hundreds of millions of people in China will travel home to celebrate the Chinese new year this weekend and China’s handling of the major outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars) in 2003. “Officials covered up the [Sars] problem for months; it took a courageous doctor to expose its scale,” it said.
“China still tightly controls news and social media, suppressing information it considers damaging. Imperial College London researchers estimate that a far higher number of people than reported –around 1,700 – may be affected.”
The leader column said too little information was available to draw firm conclusions about the new virus and argued that “sounding the alarm unnecessarily has dangers of its own”.
“People may fail to pay heed next time, or may overreact this time; tight movement restrictions can be the very thing to make people feel they should flee.
“New outbreaks are worrying, but give us opportunities to improve our preparation for the next threat, be that through increased spending on research, or an understanding that communication is as essential to disease control as handwashing and vaccines.”
The Times
“Pandemics are rare but can have devastating consequences for humans,” was the opening
paragraph of the paper’s main leader.
The paper argues that it would be prudent if a meeting of the World Health Organisation called the outbreak an international health emergency.
The paper said the most sensible thing to do with a new strain of virus is to isolate it.
“This should not be left to the individual decisions of airports and public health agencies, it should be government policy with the backing of the WHO.
“International airports in New York, San Francisco and Los Angeles have, in the past few days, introduced extra screening
measures. The Chinese new year, beginning on Saturday, will prompt the movement of hundreds of millions of citizens within China and beyond its borders.
“More stringent preventative measures would help to reassure rather than alarm the public. Historical pandemics have been horrific.
“The great influenza outbreak of 1918-20, commonly but inaccurately known as Spanish flu, killed some 50 million people worldwide.
“The only viable remedy, hard as it is for free societies to enforce, is to quarantine carriers of the virus. It is a sensible insurance and lives may depend on it.”
The Daily Mail
Returning to the topic it cannot stay away from, the Daily Mail reflected on how the story of Peter Phillips’ “tacky and absurd” advertising of milk is a stark warning to Prince Harry: “Don’t ever sell your own granny”.
AN Wilson talks of the damage “this rubbish inflicts on the institution Mr Phillips is seeking to exploit”.
“As the Duke and Duchess of Sussex embark on their new life in Canada, intending to make millions from commercial endorsements, the speaking circuit, TV deals and more, the lessons of Peter Phillips and other commercially ambitious members of the Royal Family should be uppermost in their minds,” he said.
“Such behaviour has a slowly damaging effect, not just on the Royal Family but on the whole of public life.
“Every time one of them makes some fresh sordid contract with an advertising company, lining their own pockets, they lower the concept of royalty.”