Corona vs the World
By Faraz Khan
Islamabad, Pakistan
Many of us were looking forward to a new decade of change. In Pakistan’s context, it was a time to say goodbye to ten years full of political and economic instability. Our biggest issues were seen as tackling inflation, improving the economy and maintaining law and order. In the United States, impeachment of the incumbent President was a hot topic, followed by the beginning of the Democratic nomination process to battle Trump for the White House. Yet, three months into 2020, all these issues seem trivial.
Today, all everyone talks about is COVID-19 (also known as Coronavirus). This is an enemy which has no face, no religion, no ideology. It brings with it a sense of fear which has taken over all our lives. Whether it be sports events, political rallies, travel or just basic human interactions, Corona has been winning. As of March 28 th, about 650,000 people have been affected worldwide, with about 29,000 deaths. Pakistan has a total of 1,500 official cases, with 12 deaths. Hard-hit countries such as Italy have been on virtual lockdown.
Three areas of impact of the Coronavirus are worth analyzing. The first is the effect on the global economy. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), the world real GDP growth is expected to fall from 2.9% projected earlier to 2.4%. Similarly, China’s manufacturing sector has been affected significantly which has hurt other countries with close economic links. What is interesting to note is how intertwined our economies are and how an unexpected event can lead to such a devastating multiplier effect.
Secondly, the impact on politics is noteworthy, particularly in the US. Trump’s whole premise over the past four years has been the growing economy. And it was one thing that made sense. The Dow had been at an all-time high, up about 10,000 points from Obama’s last days in office. Fast forward a month later and much of his gains have been wiped out. The leadership role played by the President during this global pandemic could be a make-or-break for his re-election prospects.
Thirdly, Coronavirus is a test of our social resilience. Whether we can rise beyond the individual and work as a society will be a true litmus test. History has shown that people can come together in times of crisis. In Pakistan, think back to the humanitarian response following the deadly October 2005 earthquake. It is pivotal for countries around the world to establish stringent protocols to keep the virus in check. Laissez-faire attitudes of people and society will not help.
Obama reiterated themes of belief and hope in his July 27, 2004 keynote address to the Democratic National Convention: “I am my brother’s keeper; I am my sister’s keeper” and a “belief that there are better days ahead.”
There is a compelling need now to be on the same page. A global enemy has emerged that cannot be defeated with military might. Instead, victory can be achieved only through an altruistic mindset. The challenge before us is to dig deep and rise as one to get rid of COVID-19 so that we are granted the luxury of going back to our trivial worldly issues.
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