THERE’S a definite whiff of panic as the global scale of the coronavirus outbreak becomes clear and efforts to control it are having mixed success. With cases being reported in many new countries for the first time and international markets suffering their worst week since the 2008 global financial crisis, there is a worrying sense that the impact of the virus is still to hit full force.
In the Far East, the epicentre in China has widened, especially to South Korea and Japan, and public health measures are having a huge effect on public opinion. As of Monday, all of Japan’s schools will be closed for a month, causing havoc for working parents wondering how they will manage childcare arrangements for such a length of time.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: British Airways cancels dozens of flights to Milan
With only a few months to go until the Olympic Games are set to start in Japan, organisers are considering what to do with the torch relay, which is supposed to make its way to 859 municipalities over the course of 121 days. With eight people already having died in Japan, the fear is that large scale public events will only heighten the risk of transmission and spread of the virus.
In South Korea, nearly 300 new cases have been reported, taking the total to more than 2000. Four large concerts by the hugely popular K-pop band BTS have been cancelled. Special exemptions to international sanctions have been secured by the World Health Organisation to deliver medical equipment to neighbouring North Korea. The isolated Stalinist state has quarantined hundreds of members of the international community in Pyongyang, but even North Korea has regular visitors, especially from neighbouring China.
In the Middle East, Iran cancelled Friday prayers in major cities, which, given their importance in the Muslim faith, is a sign of the seriousness of the outbreak there, which has been centred in the holy city of Qom.
Saudi Arabia has stopped pilgrims from visiting the country to go to the holy sites at Mecca and Medina.
READ MORE: Glasgow University staff member sent home as coronavirus precaution
In the United Arab Emirates, the final stages of the 2020 cycling tour have been cancelled after two participants from Italy tested positive. Other riders are now being tested, including the English cycling star Chris Froome.
Since Wednesday this week, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed that the virus is spreading faster outside China, where it originally started. In Europe’s outbreak epicentre Italy, more than 500 people are now infected and 14 have died.
In one 24-hour period there was a 25% increase in cases. In a dramatic on-screen media moment, the governor of the virus-hit Lombardy region Attilio Fontana put on a face mask, confirming that one of his colleagues had tested positive and he was putting himself in self-isolation.
Foreign minister Luigi Di Maio warned that the country was facing an “infodemic” as international media reports were having a negative impact on the Italian economy and tourism.
READ MORE: Coronavirus: British tourist dies on cruise ship in Japan
New cases have been reported in Lagos, Nigeria, the first in sub-saharan Africa, and in New Zealand with a passenger who returned from Iran. First cases have been reported in the Netherlands, Lithuania and Belarus. Around the world, there are now known to be more than 80,000 cases of infection reported from more than 40 countries. Nearly 3000 people are known to have died.
This last week has seen the most sustained falls on international stock markets since the global crash, with declines reported totalling 10%. Analysts are warning that the economic damage of coronavirus might be more significant than originally expected.
With more cases reported this week in England and the first in Northern Ireland, it is highly likely that Scotland will face its first case at some point soon. First Minister Nicola Sturgeon chaired a key Scottish Government resilience meeting, and Health Secretary
Jeane Freeman confirmed that plans are advanced to contain the virus here, but she was “expecting an outbreak”.
It’s worth bearing in mind that at present there are more deaths through common influenza than there are from coronavirus. But if there are any cases here, or even an outbreak as is becoming increasingly common elsewhere, it won’t take long before measures will be needed to restrict public gatherings and self-isolation to control the spread.
People are already discussing the options for home-working to protect themselves and colleagues in such a circumstance.
The WHO believes the fight against the disease is at a “decisive point” but warned against unnecessary panic. The head of the WHO Dr Tedros Ghebreyesus said: “This is a time for taking action to prevent infection and save lives.”
This seems like the most sensible advice of all. We are fortunate not to have had any coronavirus cases in Scotland yet, but they may well come sooner than we might fear.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereLast Updated:
Report this comment Cancel