Coronavirus taking away Italy’s dignity
Italy was entitling coronavirus as a normal seasonal flu and now the country is seen taking unparalleled measures being enforced right across everywhere in Italy to try to limit the spread of coronavirus as the number of cases and deaths rise sharply.
Italy faces growing isolation where thousands of flights are cancelled, airlines like British airways and Ryan airlines have closed for a month straight while Air France has changed its flight schedule according to its reliability. Although easy Jet Airlines agreed to pick some of its flights calling it rescue flights for the sake of people. Italy has stringed controls on its border with Austria and Slovenia. Public gatherings are banned whereas schools, universities, colleges and all other institutes have been closed. Furthermore the Italians are instructed to stay at home. The number of confirmed cases in Italy of corona infected people has risen to 105,792 while the death rate has increased by more than 12428 whereas 15729 have completely recovered.
On the other hand the citizens are asked to stay at home, the local police do not forget to remind people by sirens and round ups in police cars at nights and early mornings. The police surveys from Naples to the south to the supermarkets of Rome to the financial capital in Milan. News of the restriction spread as fast as the virus. The restaurants, bars, nightclubs and cafes are closed from 6pm in the evening. Tables are set a meter apart while public spots like museum and libraries are shut closed. In short, everyone is affected. Italians, tourists and expats are living in fear as the virus is spreading rapidly. The fear has caused the ban on the borders as well. The people can only cross the border after showing their health certificates, while the hospitals are themselves at breaking point. Additionally, there is an extreme shortage of medical equipment.
As far as the tourism in Italy is related, the market has fallen drastically too, in Rome the tourist spots are deserted, a huge economic impact is seen, However, the government is now discussing suspending tax and bill payments to ease the pressure. From inside the Vatican, the pope led mass urging priests to have the courage to visit the sick. But also to remain safe from the spread of virus as well, even funerals are banned, they are replaced with a restricted blessing for the dead ones and their families.
In severe epidemic crises like these Chinese government has shown its condolences with Italy by donating medical equipment in bulk. Chinese government sent a team which consisted of 9 Chinese along a plane load of 30 tons of respirators, masks and sanitizers on Thursday 12th of March. Such gesture from China clearly shows it concerns with Italy being the second most effected country after China being first itself. The virus is still in its full power and taking Italy’s dignity with it every passing day.
UK also suffers
It all started when a woman is her 70s became the first person to die due to the coronavirus in the UK, the Royal Berkshire Hospital in Redding said that she had underlining issues but has never been aboard. The number of people infected in UK has jumped to 25,000 and death toll has risen to 1,789. However the UK health medical advisor professor Chris Witte says that the authorities across the country are now trying to delay rather than contain the spread of virus. The government of United kingdom has said that it will accelerate work on preparations for the next phase, the delay phase of its plan was to tackle coronavirus that’s when it will introduce further measures to try to stop its spread once the strategy is decided, it will be ready to reach the local authorities and the communities to implement it. Many sightseeing spots would be closed including popular tourist sites, the government might take measures to ban public gatherings in the future like other effected countries. Places like Disney land and Jurassic park might also be shut soon to avoid any further spread of COVID-19.
Iran suffers rapid death rate
While the countries are taking measures to prevent and take control over the spread of deadly virus, Iran seems to be failing horribly, the death rates is highest after China. Despite of controlling the situation and dealing the epidemic Iran is seen building a massive graveyard. Graves are being dug at an unusual speed in the cemetery in Qom. Inside the cemetery morgue, officials attempt to manage the situation. Government response towards the epidemic is slower than expected. On February 19th, Iran announced its first 2 cases of COVID-19, on March 6th Iran acknowledged that the coronavirus has spread in all 31 provinces of the country. Videos emerged on social media of burial of bodies in Iran.contrmprarily in Iran there are 47 593 cases, and 3036 have died . Despite of all this, 23 members of parliament have been reported to be sick causing the suspension in services whereas 3rd Iranian official has died due to the virus. Roads, offices and malls are reported to have least people.according to the sources 15473 people have recovered but the death threat is as obvious as the spread of virus around Iran. On above of all, the massive graveyards and dug graves has terrified the people in Iran.
Pakistan under growing fear
Pakistan is in between Iran and China. Its two neighbours with the highest of COVID19 cases in the world. The corona has reached to Pakistan as well, at first 2 people were tested positive for corona, they were reported to have come back from Iran, one infected person was found in the capital of Pakistan, Islamabad whereas the second was found in the highest populated city of Pakistan, Karachi. Later than, a case from the city of Sialkot also came into the light, gradually more cases were found which left Pakistanis in fear. After the news circulated of new virus across the country the masks went dramatically short in supply, shops as well as medical stores ran out of stocks over night. The rates of masks went insanely high in just few hours.
One of the top universities of Pakistan, the Lahore University of Management and Sciences, closed down as there were a team of students who recently visited aboard during the period, to avoid any spread among the students the university called it off which was later followed by the other big universities and colleges as well, the exams and semesters are reported to be suspended for a specific period of time which shall be continued later from June 1st. Primary, secondary and elementary schools also have announced holidays whereas public gatherings are still seen. In order to prevent the epidemic the government has ban the wedding and festival gatherings, Pakistan Super League was being held where cricket players from around the world came to participate, due to the outbreak the government showed its concern towards the international players and gave them a free offer to head back to their respective countries if they want, upon this 10 international players booked their tickets back home. PSL which is once in a year league and holds immense importance and desirability among Pakistanis might also be suspended leaving behind empty stadiums.
International flights are also cancelled but then the government has allowed three airports to handle the international affairs i.e Alama Iqbal international airport of Lahore, Jinnah international airport of Karachi and Benazir Bhutto international Airport in Capital, Islamabad. The Kartarpur Corridor which was opened last year for the Sikh pilgrims was a cause of relief among the Sikh community is now closed to prevent the spread of COVID19. In addition to this Pakistan has closed its borders with the neighbour countries too. Spring festival has also been suspended this year. The total number of cases reported in Pakistan has risen to 2071 raising serious concerns for public as well as the government. Unfortunately, 27 died and 82 have recovered till now.
Situation in China under control
China being the origin of the outbreak of coronavirus now is stable after several weeks of restless days and sleepless nights. Chinese government has left the world in surprise by taking control over the virus being the most populated and 2nd largest country of the world. There are no more cases reported in previous days in the province of Hubei which is the epicenter of the outbreak. There is now only a handful of cases which too are of imported people, according to the officials. The strict measures and hard work of medical team as well as the government and police officials has made an impossible mission possible.
The situation is getting better but it’s still not 100 percent safe, measures are still taken, medical check-ups are still in practice, schools, colleges , universities, offices, factories and malls remains close, but movement of people is also witnessed unlike the previous month. Markets have opened but only main entrances are open where you can only enter after showing your medical certificate and temperature check at the entrance, masks are still compulsory everywhere.
China now is the expert of dealing with the COVID-19, it has surprised everyone and the nation has stood together to fight the battle, now when the situation is better, officials aboard are offering Chinese medical teams to come to their countries to help them as well. In the crucial stage where many countries mocked China and humiliated Chinese around the world, let it be streets, schools, roads or even social media platforms, China on the other hand is offering its neighbours and other countries with help and donations. Medical equipment such as masks, respirators, gloves and sanitizers will be sent from China in order to fight the battle with corona.
The total cases of coronavirus in China are 81,554 of which 76,238 people have fully recovered but unfortunately 3,312 couldn’t survive. If we concentrate on the ratio we will know that China has not failed, it in fact has struggled a lot and undoubtedly made a history itself.
If other countries also take measures like China, they might also survive the tough battle against Corona. It’s a high time for the world as whole.
The writer is a human rights activist,a blogger.
