(Reuters Breakingviews) - It’s not time to panic, but it is time to face reality...
NEW YORK - It’s not time to panic, but it is time to face reality. The coronavirus is spreading around the world. China’s unprecedented efforts slowed the spread of the new disease officially known as Covid-19, but that’s merely won some time. Infected people have now been detected on every continent except Antarctica. Competent and open government is the best defense against hospitals and society being overwhelmed. But nations will probably have to deal with recurring outbreaks.
What’s especially alarming is that one of the first indications of a mass outbreak in Iran came from a traveler being diagnosed in Canada. If countries that appear uninfected are spreading the disease, many other outbreaks are presumably underway. Nearly every country neighboring Iran has now been affected.For a disease to be truly worrisome, it needs to be both highly contagious and dangerous.
Hospitals would probably run short of protective gear. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has said the government has stockpiled 30 million masks, but it needs 300 million to protect front-line healthcare workers alone. Doctors would be overloaded, because many would become sick, and because people who have not been infected would still seek help.
The World Bank estimated in 2014 that a pandemic of similar size and effect to the 1918 flu would knock 5% off global gross domestic product. That disease was both widespread and probably more virulent – it killed over 50 million people – so that’s a worst-case scenario.Allowing information to flow freely is the best way to identify clusters early. When local officials cover up, or doctors are afraid to disclose cases, outbreaks fester.
Canada Latest News, Canada Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Breakdown: Coronavirus goes globalChina’s draconian efforts have slowed the new disease, but it’s now spreading worldwide. Competent and open government is the best defense against hospitals and society being overwhelmed. Nations may have to deal with recurring outbreaks. Breakingviews explains what to expect.
Read more »
Iran’s Deputy Health Minister Tests Positive for Coronavirus, Showing the Virus’s Growing ReachCoronavirus is testing global governments’ administrative capabilities—and their ability to tell the truth.
Read more »
Fears of coronavirus pandemic spreading Olympic uneaseFears that the new coronavirus outbreak is on the verge of becoming a global pan...
Read more »
China city offers $1,400 reward for virus patients who report to authoritiesA city in China's Hubei province, the epicenter of the global coronavirus e...
Read more »
'The worst is yet to come': Global stocks plummet as fears mount of a coronavirus pandemic | Markets InsiderGlobal stocks tumbled on Wednesday as investors braced for the novel coronavirus to escalate into a global pandemic. The flu-like illness has in...
Read more »
Stock market rout deepens on virus worries; indexes lose 4%BREAKING: Investors' growing fears about virus outbreak sends Dow Jones Industrial Average down nearly 1,200 points. The losses extend a weeklong rout in stocks that has wiped out gains the major indexes had posted early this year.
Read more »