CORONAVIRUS - FEARS AND HOPES

On my post "LATEST INTERNATIONAL AND LOCAL NEWS"  of the 11th February 2020, I had written about the international anxiety about the coronavirus epidemic and how scientists are racing to find a vaccine against this horrendous infection.

Unfortunately, infections and deaths continued to climb this week.   2.641 new coronavirus cases and 143 additional deaths have been reported in the last 24 hours.

Deep fear about the coronavirus has gripped the world.  On a televised report the Chinese government stated that anyone returning to Beijing would be required to be in quarantine for 14 days.  The outbreak of this awful disease has stopped workers from resuming full production, but this did not stop the city's municipal leaders from further tightening control in the city, which was extremely detrimental for the country's economy.

Antique Map of Africa

Antique Map of China

The first coronavirus case in Africa is reported in Egypt, the Ministry of Health has reported that the victim has been isolated. As China has expanded its political, economic and military ties to Africa, attracting a large number of Chinese workers to the continent, increased the fear of the coronavirus spreading there.

Antique World Map 1570

The coronavirus is affecting 29 countries and territories around the world plus the "Diamond Princess", a Japanese cruise ship harboured in Yokohama.  These are, besides China and Japan, which are the most seriously affected, Egypt, Hong-Kong, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Malasia, Vietnam, Germany, USA, Australia, France, Macao, UK, Canada, Philippines, Italy, India, Russia, Ukraine. Spain, Nepal, Belgium, Sri Lanka, Finland, Egypt, Cambodia and Sweeden.  A worldwide epidemic with crucial perhaps deadly results.

According to the World Health Organisation, "it may be 18 months before a vaccine against the coronavirus is publically available."  Historically, vaccines have taken 2-5 years to develop, but because of the global effort, the researchers could develop the vaccine in a much shorter time.  Obviously, it first has to be tried on animals and then on humans.

Kifissia by Yilli Haruni