Coronavirus: Beyond the burden of a disease

As death toll approaches five hundred with over 24 thousand recorded cases of infection, the new Coronavirus has proven more fiery than the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and a disease that just seems to be overwhelming China and yes, the entire world. And the numbers and figures recorded are just the officially sanctioned ones for a country that's so strictly bureaucratic.

The fear that the situation could be worse more than reported is further highlighted by even the sanctioned reported cases of daily infections. Just Tuesday, it was gathered that 3,388 people were infected while about 68 deaths occurred. Hubei Province, the hotbed of infection, alone, recorded over 16,000 infections and over 479 deaths.

Wuhan which allegedly is the epicenter of the viral explosion, is home to the bulk of deaths and infection. Over 250,000 are said to have been placed on surveillance. And on how the Chinese system appeared to be overwhelmed by the stoking fire of the Coronavirus ignition could be understood from the reported incidences of how some of the health facilities set up for this emergency are constantly turning off infected people.

People are dying, and many more are getting infected!

However, beyond the overwhelming incidences, we must not fail to recognise the high spirit of the Chinese government and people. Their efforts to containing this endemic situation is worth commending, showing greatly how determination and the unity of purpose to confront a challenge can be so rewarding.

Breaking a record in the face of a debilitating hamstrung, the Chinese government was able to construct a 1000-bed facility to accommodate the soaring health challenge- the hospital was built within 10 days.

Even as infection rates continue to soar with the high velocity given by the coronavirus, it is worthy to also observe how the counter-mechanisms put in place to stem the tide are working. There are confirmed suggestions that the treatment plan put in place is working. On Tuesday, just about 262 people left hospital after been treated, with number of suspected cases dropping.

Wuhan, where the disease is said to have emanated, has suddenly lost its high visiting velocity, becoming for many a careful territory to be threaded. A cautiousness that has imposed a restriction on movement in and out in one of the most drastic effort to control further spread of the disease. But how do they survive? In a lock down, inhabitants of Wuhan have had their basic needs for food and healthcare provided. This, beyond being so ingenious, has being so remarkable. There were concerns of dwindling provisions, especially of healthcare, but in a swift reaction, that was reassured.

With the only outside-China cases recorded in the Phillipines and HongKong, the new coronavirus has so far become a global health emergency, affecting France, the UK, the US, South Korea, Russia, Sweden, Malaysia, Italy, Finland, Germany, etc. The world need not be overworried but to be on the alert, observing necessary precautionary measures to hold back and totally erase the effect of this novel virus. The example of China should embolden all and implore us to be proactive in the effort to totally crush this 2019 novel coronavirus.