Science has knocked religion and traditional healing methods out of the ring in the battle between rival approaches towards getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.

Global leaders have imposed science-driven solutions&nbsp;of lockdown, social distancing, and the search for medical cures&nbsp;after initially opting for political expediency or advocacy of traditional healing methods or religious precepts.

Remarkably, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of a kingdom that was founded and shaped by an ultra-conservative strand of Islam, was one leader who was not held back by religion when he suspended the Umrah (the smaller pilgrimage to Mecca). He announced that this year’s Hajj could be cancelled, and locked down the holy city, as well as, its counterpart, Medina.

“What if this year’s Hajj was under Imran Khan rather than Mohammed bin Salman? Would he have waffled there as indeed he has in Pakistan?” asked Pakistani nuclear scientist, political analyst, and human rights activist Pervez Hoodbhoy.

Hoodbhoy noted that Pakistan is yet to import Saudi dates touted as a cure for all diseases by Maulana Tariq Jameel, Pakistan’s most popular preacher and an ally of Khan.

Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei has similarly dropped his resistance to the closure of shrines in the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad. His government has closed schools and universities and urged the public to stay at home while announcing that “low-risk” economic activity would be allowed to resume next week.

The consequences of science-based approaches for civilizationalists, who advocate policies inspired by religion or the supremacy of one religious group over another, could go far beyond what should shape public health policies.

They could threaten the foundations of their religious support base, as well as, their discriminatory policies towards religious or ethnic minorities. Israel is a case in point in terms of both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious support base and his policies towards Israeli nationals of Palestinian descent.

With ultra-orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods and cities emerging as the communities most affected by the coronavirus, some Israeli commentators argue that the pandemic could undermine rabbinical authority on a scale not seen since the Holocaust when large numbers left ultra-orthodoxy after rabbinical advice to remain in Europe proved devastating.

Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who together with his wife, has tested positive. Ultra-orthodox rabbis had to reverse themselves in recent days as the virus ate its way through their communities in Jerusalem and other Israeli cities.

“Torah no longer saves from death. The coronavirus has dealt an unimaginable blow to the rabbinical authority – and worldview – that ultra-Orthodox Jews previously regarded as infallible and eternal,” said prominent Israeli journalist Anshel Pfeffer, who authored an acclaimed biography of Netanyahu.

The non-discriminatory nature of the coronavirus forced the Israeli government last week to ramp up testing in communities of Israeli Palestinians which had been described by public health experts as a ticking time bomb.

The experts warned that Israeli Palestinians were an at-risk group, many of whom suffer from chronic diseases, live in crowded conditions, and are socially and economically disadvantaged.

“In terms of public health, due to the present situation, the Arab communities are likely to become epicentres of the coronavirus outbreak, which will threaten the health of the entire population,” said Nihaya Daoud, a public health lecturer at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev.

Increased testing of Israel Palestinians tackles Israel’s immediate problem of attempting to stymie the spread of the virus. It doesn’t, however, address the longer-term structural threat to public health posed by imbalances in health infrastructure in Israeli Jewish and Israeli Palestinian communities, a lesson many Israelis could draw from the coronavirus crisis.

Drawing that lesson would challenge a pillar of Israeli policy with far-reaching consequences.

By the same token, the return home of some 45,000 Palestinian workers to the West Bank for this week’s Passover holiday is likely to create bottlenecks in both Israel and the Palestinian territory after the Israeli government decided that they would not be allowed to return because of health concerns.

The decision threatens to create a labour shortage in Israel, increase economic pressure on an already weakened Palestine Authority, and facilitate the spread of the virus on the West Bank given the administration’s inability to test all returnees.

“Because the two populations are so intertwined, curbing the virus only in one society is impossible,” said Ofer Zalzberg of the International Crisis Group.

It’s a lesson that applies universally, not just to Israelis and Palestinians. That is no truer than in Syrian and Palestinian refugee camps that dot the eastern Mediterranean.

The global pandemic also casts a glaring spotlight on the risks of looking the other way when hospitals and health infrastructure are deliberately destroyed in war-torn countries like in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s forces deliberately targetted hospitals, and in Yemen, where the Saudi-UAE-led coalition did the same.

No doubt, it is a lesson that anti-globalists and civilizationalists prefer not to hear.

Yet, whether anti-globalists and civilizationalists like it or not, the coronavirus is global and universal. So is the science that will ultimately help get control of the pandemic and eventually stop it in its tracks.

&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

(This article was originally published on <a href="https://insidearabia.com/stopping-covid-19-in-its-tracks-science-gets-the-upper-hand/">The Inside Arabia</a> ) 
&nbsp;

Science has knocked religion and traditional healing methods out of the ring in the battle between rival approaches towards getting the coronavirus pandemic under control.

Science has knocked religion and traditional healing methods out of the ring in the battle between rival approaches towards getting the coronavirus pandemic under control. Global leaders have imposed science-driven solutions of lockdown, social distancing, and the search for medical cures after initially opting for political expediency or advocacy of traditional healing methods or religious precepts. Remarkably, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the de facto ruler of a kingdom that was founded and shaped by an ultra-conservative strand of Islam, was one leader who was not held back by religion when he suspended the Umrah (the smaller pilgrimage to Mecca). He announced that this year’s Hajj could be cancelled, and locked down the holy city, as well as, its counterpart, Medina. “What if this year’s Hajj was under Imran Khan rather than Mohammed bin Salman? Would he have waffled there as indeed he has in Pakistan?” asked Pakistani nuclear scientist, political analyst, and human rights activist Pervez Hoodbhoy. Hoodbhoy noted that Pakistan is yet to import Saudi dates touted as a cure for all diseases by Maulana Tariq Jameel, Pakistan’s most popular preacher and an ally of Khan. Iran's Supreme Leader Khamenei has similarly dropped his resistance to the closure of shrines in the holy cities of Qom and Mashhad. His government has closed schools and universities and urged the public to stay at home while announcing that “low-risk” economic activity would be allowed to resume next week. The consequences of science-based approaches for civilizationalists, who advocate policies inspired by religion or the supremacy of one religious group over another, could go far beyond what should shape public health policies. They could threaten the foundations of their religious support base, as well as, their discriminatory policies towards religious or ethnic minorities. Israel is a case in point in terms of both Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s religious support base and his policies towards Israeli nationals of Palestinian descent. With ultra-orthodox Jewish neighbourhoods and cities emerging as the communities most affected by the coronavirus, some Israeli commentators argue that the pandemic could undermine rabbinical authority on a scale not seen since the Holocaust when large numbers left ultra-orthodoxy after rabbinical advice to remain in Europe proved devastating. Health Minister Yaakov Litzman, who together with his wife, has tested positive. Ultra-orthodox rabbis had to reverse themselves in recent days as the virus ate its way through their communities in Jerusalem and other Israeli cities. “Torah no longer saves from death. The coronavirus has dealt an unimaginable blow to the rabbinical authority – and worldview – that ultra-Orthodox Jews previously regarded as infallible and eternal,” said prominent Israeli journalist Anshel Pfeffer, who authored an acclaimed biography of Netanyahu. The non-discriminatory nature of the coronavirus forced the Israeli government last week to ramp up testing in communities of Israeli Palestinians which had been described by public health experts as a ticking time bomb. The experts warned that Israeli Palestinians were an at-risk group, many of whom suffer from chronic diseases, live in crowded conditions, and are socially and economically disadvantaged. “In terms of public health, due to the present situation, the Arab communities are likely to become epicentres of the coronavirus outbreak, which will threaten the health of the entire population,” said Nihaya Daoud, a public health lecturer at the Ben Gurion University of the Negev. Increased testing of Israel Palestinians tackles Israel’s immediate problem of attempting to stymie the spread of the virus. It doesn’t, however, address the longer-term structural threat to public health posed by imbalances in health infrastructure in Israeli Jewish and Israeli Palestinian communities, a lesson many Israelis could draw from the coronavirus crisis. Drawing that lesson would challenge a pillar of Israeli policy with far-reaching consequences. By the same token, the return home of some 45,000 Palestinian workers to the West Bank for this week’s Passover holiday is likely to create bottlenecks in both Israel and the Palestinian territory after the Israeli government decided that they would not be allowed to return because of health concerns. The decision threatens to create a labour shortage in Israel, increase economic pressure on an already weakened Palestine Authority, and facilitate the spread of the virus on the West Bank given the administration’s inability to test all returnees. “Because the two populations are so intertwined, curbing the virus only in one society is impossible,” said Ofer Zalzberg of the International Crisis Group. It’s a lesson that applies universally, not just to Israelis and Palestinians. That is no truer than in Syrian and Palestinian refugee camps that dot the eastern Mediterranean. The global pandemic also casts a glaring spotlight on the risks of looking the other way when hospitals and health infrastructure are deliberately destroyed in war-torn countries like in Syria, where President Bashar al-Assad’s forces deliberately targetted hospitals, and in Yemen, where the Saudi-UAE-led coalition did the same. No doubt, it is a lesson that anti-globalists and civilizationalists prefer not to hear. Yet, whether anti-globalists and civilizationalists like it or not, the coronavirus is global and universal. So is the science that will ultimately help get control of the pandemic and eventually stop it in its tracks. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) (This article was originally published on The Inside Arabia )

Science gets upper hand in the fight against coronavirus

America spends more than $600 billion on defence. It has one of the biggest weapon arsenals, but amid the coronavirus outbreak - the US is facing a critical shortage of masks and drugs.&nbsp;

Countries stockpile oil, missiles&nbsp;as a strategic reserve and not medicines. However, this outbreak has rendered those strategic reserves useless. It's time to redefine strategic reserves because missiles and oil won't help, medicines will.

A report from 2018 says the US spends $81 billion a year to protect oil supplies around the world. Last year, the US government allocated more than 600 billion dollars for defence.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration shared this year's budget and the plan was to cut expenditure on health. 
 
WATCH: 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-edit-why-a-strategic-reserve-for-medicine-is-the-need-of-the-hour-gravitas-291223/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Trump wanted to cut $844 billion in 10 years for health, but that plan went for a toss because last month, Trump had to sign a $2 trillion coronavirus bill.

Nobody was prepared for this pandemic, and hence, America is being forced to spend more on health care, to be fair, every other country is.

According to a report, 47 per cent of drug supply in the US comes from India. America has something that is called the strategic national stockpile - a stock of medicines and medical supplies maintained for a crisis like this.

The stockpile has been maintained for 22 years now. It has around $7 billion of supplies, but some of it has not been completely restocked.

According to a report carried by the Washington Post, &nbsp;the US hasn't restocked N95 masks in the national stockpile. Millions of maks were used up in 2009 during the H1N1 outbreak.&nbsp;

Had countries like the United States prioritised public health over potential wars, things may not have been so bad.

By no stretch of the imagination can India boast of a solid public healthcare system. There are too many problems, but the medicine supply is not one of them.

India manufactures 70 per cent of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine, making it the biggest global supplier of this anti-malaria drug.

The present situation solidifies India's position as the world's pharmacy. India ranks 3rd globally in pharmaceutical production, supplying drugs to more than 200 countries.

The coronavirus crisis has disrupted China-based global supply chains. The world has no other option, but to turn to India for help.

Who would've thought an anti-malarial drug, which has not even got scientific backing as a cure, would make superpowers scramble.

This crisis has disrupted&nbsp;a lot of things, including our concepts of what is a strategic reserve - in times of a pandemic, it's medicine.&nbsp;

&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

&nbsp;

&nbsp;

America spends more than $600 billion on defence. It has one of the biggest weapon arsenals, but amid the coronavirus outbreak - the US is facing a critical shortage of masks and drugs.

America spends more than $600 billion on defence. It has one of the biggest weapon arsenals, but amid the coronavirus outbreak - the US is facing a critical shortage of masks and drugs. Countries stockpile oil, missiles as a strategic reserve and not medicines. However, this outbreak has rendered those strategic reserves useless. It's time to redefine strategic reserves because missiles and oil won't help, medicines will. A report from 2018 says the US spends $81 billion a year to protect oil supplies around the world. Last year, the US government allocated more than 600 billion dollars for defence. Earlier this year, the Trump administration shared this year's budget and the plan was to cut expenditure on health. WATCH: × Trump wanted to cut $844 billion in 10 years for health, but that plan went for a toss because last month, Trump had to sign a $2 trillion coronavirus bill. Nobody was prepared for this pandemic, and hence, America is being forced to spend more on health care, to be fair, every other country is. According to a report, 47 per cent of drug supply in the US comes from India. America has something that is called the strategic national stockpile - a stock of medicines and medical supplies maintained for a crisis like this. The stockpile has been maintained for 22 years now. It has around $7 billion of supplies, but some of it has not been completely restocked. According to a report carried by the Washington Post, the US hasn't restocked N95 masks in the national stockpile. Millions of maks were used up in 2009 during the H1N1 outbreak. Had countries like the United States prioritised public health over potential wars, things may not have been so bad. By no stretch of the imagination can India boast of a solid public healthcare system. There are too many problems, but the medicine supply is not one of them. India manufactures 70 per cent of the world’s supply of hydroxychloroquine, making it the biggest global supplier of this anti-malaria drug. The present situation solidifies India's position as the world's pharmacy. India ranks 3rd globally in pharmaceutical production, supplying drugs to more than 200 countries. The coronavirus crisis has disrupted China-based global supply chains. The world has no other option, but to turn to India for help. Who would've thought an anti-malarial drug, which has not even got scientific backing as a cure, would make superpowers scramble. This crisis has disrupted a lot of things, including our concepts of what is a strategic reserve - in times of a pandemic, it's medicine. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Why a strategic reserve for medicine is need of the hour

The <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/covid-19-virus-can-last-on-face-masks-for-a-week-banknotes-for-days-study-291161">coronavirus</a> knows no social boundaries, it does not discriminate. From politicians to movie stars to athletes, the pandemic has been particularly tough on the rich and famous.

The virus-induced slowdown is eroding the fortunes of the billionaire club.&nbsp;

In just two months, the Wuhan virus has made a dent of $408 billion in the wealth of the world's top 100 billionaires.

With operations halted and factories shut, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/global-death-toll-from-coronavirus-tops-75000-291140">coronavirus </a>is not working out for India's richest man. Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries has seen his net worth tank by 28 per cent in 60 days.

Reports indicate that his net worth fell 300 million dollars each day in the last 2 months. The impact has been severe, Ambani is no longer among the top 10 richest men in the world.&nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/coronavirus-induced-global-downturn-worse-than-financial-crisis-a-decade-ago-imf-290529">Also Read: Coronavirus-induced global downturn worse than financial crisis a decade ago: IMF</a> 
 
Ritesh Agarwal, the 26-year old founder and CEO of Oyo hospitality group, has decided to forego 100 per cent of his annual salary for this year because the company's evaluation has dropped to $6 billion from $10 billion.

China was the company's largest market outside India, but due to the pandemic bookings for Oyo rooms have dropped abysmally. The company has been forced to lay off 7,000 employees across China.

Ritesh Agarwal too is no longer in the top 100 list, he may soon lose to the tag of being the world's second-youngest billionaire.

Gautam Adani, founder &amp; chairman of the Adani Group, is estimated to have lost 37 per cent or $6 billion dollars of his wealth.

Shiv Nadar's, HCL founder &amp; chairman's, wealth has declined by 26 per cent which is close to $5 billion.&nbsp;

Uday Kotak, the chairman of the Kotak Mahindra Bank, has lost $4 billion dollars which is 28 per cent of his wealth.

Globally, 86 per cent of billionaires on the Hurun list have seen their wealth decline. This includes the king of luxury, Bernard Arnault. His net worth fell $30 billion in the last 2 months. 
&nbsp; 
Amancio Ortega, the owner of the Zara Group, saw a decline of 21 per cent in his wealth which has fallen by $17 billion dollars.

The Mexican businessman magnate, Carlos Slim, shed 24 per cent of his wealth. He too lost $17 billion in the last 2 months.

And Jeff Bezos has lost $9 billion in the two month period, but he remains the world's richest man with a net worth of $131 billion.

However, it's a curious coincidence that some billionaires, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/as-coronavirus-becomes-a-global-threat-who-china-ties-need-greater-international-scrutiny-291137">mostly in China</a>, are becoming richer despite the pandemic. 
&nbsp; 
Alex Xu's, the founder of Shenzhen-based ventilator manufacturer Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, net worth has risen 26 per cent to $13.5 billion in the last 2 months. His company is supplying the world with ventilators to fight the coronavirus.

Eric Yuan's, the US-based founder of video-conferencing app Zoom, net worth has skyrocketed. It has risen by 77 per cent.&nbsp;

The founder of New Hope, the biggest animal feed producer in China, Liu Yonghao's wealth has risen by 20 per cent to $15 billion.

And Qin Yinglin's, the chairman of Muyuan, fortune has risen by 16 per cent to $22 billion.

As the masters of the economic universe lose money due to the Wuhan coronavirus. China's puzzling success story needs to be studied and&nbsp;investigated.

&nbsp;

The coronavirus knows no social boundaries, it does not discriminate. From politicians to movie stars to athletes, the pandemic has been particularly tough on the rich and famous.

The coronavirus knows no social boundaries, it does not discriminate. From politicians to movie stars to athletes, the pandemic has been particularly tough on the rich and famous. The virus-induced slowdown is eroding the fortunes of the billionaire club. In just two months, the Wuhan virus has made a dent of $408 billion in the wealth of the world's top 100 billionaires. With operations halted and factories shut, the coronavirus is not working out for India's richest man. Mukesh Ambani, the chairman of Reliance Industries has seen his net worth tank by 28 per cent in 60 days. Reports indicate that his net worth fell 300 million dollars each day in the last 2 months. The impact has been severe, Ambani is no longer among the top 10 richest men in the world. Also Read: Coronavirus-induced global downturn worse than financial crisis a decade ago: IMF Ritesh Agarwal, the 26-year old founder and CEO of Oyo hospitality group, has decided to forego 100 per cent of his annual salary for this year because the company's evaluation has dropped to $6 billion from $10 billion. China was the company's largest market outside India, but due to the pandemic bookings for Oyo rooms have dropped abysmally. The company has been forced to lay off 7,000 employees across China. Ritesh Agarwal too is no longer in the top 100 list, he may soon lose to the tag of being the world's second-youngest billionaire. Gautam Adani, founder & chairman of the Adani Group, is estimated to have lost 37 per cent or $6 billion dollars of his wealth. Shiv Nadar's, HCL founder & chairman's, wealth has declined by 26 per cent which is close to $5 billion. Uday Kotak, the chairman of the Kotak Mahindra Bank, has lost $4 billion dollars which is 28 per cent of his wealth. Globally, 86 per cent of billionaires on the Hurun list have seen their wealth decline. This includes the king of luxury, Bernard Arnault. His net worth fell $30 billion in the last 2 months. Amancio Ortega, the owner of the Zara Group, saw a decline of 21 per cent in his wealth which has fallen by $17 billion dollars. The Mexican businessman magnate, Carlos Slim, shed 24 per cent of his wealth. He too lost $17 billion in the last 2 months. And Jeff Bezos has lost $9 billion in the two month period, but he remains the world's richest man with a net worth of $131 billion. However, it's a curious coincidence that some billionaires, mostly in China, are becoming richer despite the pandemic. Alex Xu's, the founder of Shenzhen-based ventilator manufacturer Mindray Bio-Medical Electronics, net worth has risen 26 per cent to $13.5 billion in the last 2 months. His company is supplying the world with ventilators to fight the coronavirus. Eric Yuan's, the US-based founder of video-conferencing app Zoom, net worth has skyrocketed. It has risen by 77 per cent. The founder of New Hope, the biggest animal feed producer in China, Liu Yonghao's wealth has risen by 20 per cent to $15 billion. And Qin Yinglin's, the chairman of Muyuan, fortune has risen by 16 per cent to $22 billion. As the masters of the economic universe lose money due to the Wuhan coronavirus. China's puzzling success story needs to be studied and investigated.

World's rich and famous hit hard by coronavirus outbreak

By Tom Duszynski

The coronavirus is certainly scary, but despite the constant reporting on total cases and a climbing death toll, the reality is that the vast majority of people who come down with COVID-19 survive it. Just as the number of cases grows, so does another number: those who have recovered.

In mid-March, the number of patients in the US who had officially recovered from the virus was close to zero. That number is now in the tens of thousands and is climbing every day. But recovering from COVID-19 is more complicated than simply feeling better. Recovery involves biology, epidemiology and a little bit of bureaucracy too.

How does your body fight off COVID-19?

Once a person is exposed the coronavirus, the body starts producing proteins called antibodies to fight the infection. As these antibodies start to successfully contain the virus and keep it from replicating in the body, symptoms usually begin to lessen and you start to feel better. Eventually, if all goes well, your immune system will completely destroy all of the virus in your system. A person who was infected with and survived a virus with no long-term health effects or disabilities has “recovered.”

On average, a person who is infected with SARS-CoV-2 will feel ill for about seven days from the onset of symptoms. Even after symptoms disappear, there still may be small amounts of the virus in a patient’s system, and they should stay isolated for an additional three days to ensure they have truly recovered and are no longer infectious.

What about immunity?

In general, once you have recovered from a viral infection, your body will keep cells called lymphocytes in your system. These cells “remember” viruses they’ve previously seen and can react quickly to fight them off again. If you are exposed to a virus you have already had, your antibodies will likely stop the virus before it starts causing symptoms. You become immune. This is the principle behind many vaccines.

Unfortunately, immunity isn’t perfect. For many viruses, like mumps, immunity can wane over time, leaving you susceptible to the virus in the future. This is why you need to get revaccinated – those “booster shots” – occasionally: to prompt your immune system to make more antibodies and memory cells.

Since this coronavirus is so new, scientists still don’t know whether people who recover from COVID-19 are immune to future infections of the virus. Doctors are finding antibodies in ill and recovered patients, and that indicates the development of immunity. But the question remains how long that immunity will last. Other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS produce an immune response that will protect a person at least for a short time. I would suspect the same is true of SARS-CoV-2, but the research simply hasn’t been done yet to say so definitively.

Why have so few people officially recovered in the US? 
 
This is a dangerous virus, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is being extremely careful when deciding what it means to recover from COVID-19. Both medical and testing criteria must be met before a person is officially declared recovered.

Medically, a person must be fever-free without fever-reducing medications for three consecutive days. They must show an improvement in their other symptoms, including reduced coughing and shortness of breath. And it must be at least seven full days since the symptoms began.

In addition to those requirements, the CDC guidelines say that a person must test negative for the coronavirus twice, with the tests taken at least 24 hours apart.

Only then, if both the symptom and testing conditions are met, is a person officially considered recovered by the CDC.

This second testing requirement is likely why there were so few official recovered cases in the U.S. until late March. Initially, there was a massive shortage of testing in the U.S. So while many people were certainly recovering over the last few weeks, this could not be officially confirmed. As the country enters the height of the pandemic in the coming weeks, focus is still on testing those who are infected, not those who have likely recovered.

Many more people are being tested now that states and private companies have begun producing and distributing tests. As the number of available tests increases and the pandemic eventually slows in the country, more testing will be available for those who have appeared to recover. As people who have already recovered are tested, the appearance of any new infections will help researchers learn how long immunity can be expected to last.

Once a person has recovered, what can they do? 
 
Knowing whether or not people are immune to COVID-19 after they recover is going to determine what individuals, communities and society at large can do going forward. If scientists can show that recovered patients are immune to the coronavirus, then a person who has recovered could, in theory, help support the health care system by caring for those who are infected.

Once communities pass the peak of the epidemic, the number of new infections will decline, while the number of recovered people will increase. As these trends continue, the risk of transmission will fall. Once the risk of transmission has fallen enough, community-level isolation and social distancing orders will begin to relax and businesses will start to reopen. Based on what other countries have gone through, it will be months until the risk of transmission is low in the U.S.

But before any of this can happen, the U.S. and the world need to make it through the peak of this pandemic. Social distancing works to slow the spread of infectious diseases and is working for COVID-19. Many people will need medical help to recover, and social distancing will slow this virus down and give people the best chance to do so.

(Tom Duszynski is Director Epidemiology Education, IUPUI)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-does-recovered-from-coronavirus-mean-4-questions-answered-about-how-some-survive-and-what-happens-next-134883">original article</a>)

By Tom Duszynski The coronavirus is certainly scary, but despite the constant reporting on total cases and a climbing death toll, the reality is that the vast majority of people who come down with COVID-19 survive it.

By Tom Duszynski The coronavirus is certainly scary, but despite the constant reporting on total cases and a climbing death toll, the reality is that the vast majority of people who come down with COVID-19 survive it. Just as the number of cases grows, so does another number: those who have recovered. In mid-March, the number of patients in the US who had officially recovered from the virus was close to zero. That number is now in the tens of thousands and is climbing every day. But recovering from COVID-19 is more complicated than simply feeling better. Recovery involves biology, epidemiology and a little bit of bureaucracy too. How does your body fight off COVID-19? Once a person is exposed the coronavirus, the body starts producing proteins called antibodies to fight the infection. As these antibodies start to successfully contain the virus and keep it from replicating in the body, symptoms usually begin to lessen and you start to feel better. Eventually, if all goes well, your immune system will completely destroy all of the virus in your system. A person who was infected with and survived a virus with no long-term health effects or disabilities has “recovered.” On average, a person who is infected with SARS-CoV-2 will feel ill for about seven days from the onset of symptoms. Even after symptoms disappear, there still may be small amounts of the virus in a patient’s system, and they should stay isolated for an additional three days to ensure they have truly recovered and are no longer infectious. What about immunity? In general, once you have recovered from a viral infection, your body will keep cells called lymphocytes in your system. These cells “remember” viruses they’ve previously seen and can react quickly to fight them off again. If you are exposed to a virus you have already had, your antibodies will likely stop the virus before it starts causing symptoms. You become immune. This is the principle behind many vaccines. Unfortunately, immunity isn’t perfect. For many viruses, like mumps, immunity can wane over time, leaving you susceptible to the virus in the future. This is why you need to get revaccinated – those “booster shots” – occasionally: to prompt your immune system to make more antibodies and memory cells. Since this coronavirus is so new, scientists still don’t know whether people who recover from COVID-19 are immune to future infections of the virus. Doctors are finding antibodies in ill and recovered patients, and that indicates the development of immunity. But the question remains how long that immunity will last. Other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS produce an immune response that will protect a person at least for a short time. I would suspect the same is true of SARS-CoV-2, but the research simply hasn’t been done yet to say so definitively. Why have so few people officially recovered in the US? This is a dangerous virus, so the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is being extremely careful when deciding what it means to recover from COVID-19. Both medical and testing criteria must be met before a person is officially declared recovered. Medically, a person must be fever-free without fever-reducing medications for three consecutive days. They must show an improvement in their other symptoms, including reduced coughing and shortness of breath. And it must be at least seven full days since the symptoms began. In addition to those requirements, the CDC guidelines say that a person must test negative for the coronavirus twice, with the tests taken at least 24 hours apart. Only then, if both the symptom and testing conditions are met, is a person officially considered recovered by the CDC. This second testing requirement is likely why there were so few official recovered cases in the U.S. until late March. Initially, there was a massive shortage of testing in the U.S. So while many people were certainly recovering over the last few weeks, this could not be officially confirmed. As the country enters the height of the pandemic in the coming weeks, focus is still on testing those who are infected, not those who have likely recovered. Many more people are being tested now that states and private companies have begun producing and distributing tests. As the number of available tests increases and the pandemic eventually slows in the country, more testing will be available for those who have appeared to recover. As people who have already recovered are tested, the appearance of any new infections will help researchers learn how long immunity can be expected to last. Once a person has recovered, what can they do? Knowing whether or not people are immune to COVID-19 after they recover is going to determine what individuals, communities and society at large can do going forward. If scientists can show that recovered patients are immune to the coronavirus, then a person who has recovered could, in theory, help support the health care system by caring for those who are infected. Once communities pass the peak of the epidemic, the number of new infections will decline, while the number of recovered people will increase. As these trends continue, the risk of transmission will fall. Once the risk of transmission has fallen enough, community-level isolation and social distancing orders will begin to relax and businesses will start to reopen. Based on what other countries have gone through, it will be months until the risk of transmission is low in the U.S. But before any of this can happen, the U.S. and the world need to make it through the peak of this pandemic. Social distancing works to slow the spread of infectious diseases and is working for COVID-19. Many people will need medical help to recover, and social distancing will slow this virus down and give people the best chance to do so. (Tom Duszynski is Director Epidemiology Education, IUPUI) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

What does ‘recovered from coronavirus’ mean?

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and China have been in the limelight since the onset of COVID-19. The growing camaraderie between both suggests towards China's "charm-offensive" approach of expediting its objectives in the global health body. This holds great significance in the pretext of China's mounting financial clout in the WHO, especially as the latter effusively praises China for its efforts to contain the virus. Moreover, it is also on the issue of Taiwan, that Beijing's political authority in the WHO is most apparent.&nbsp;

However, as COVID-19 becomes a pandemic and a threat to global economic growth, China witnesses its foreign policy and governance model being tested at the inception of criticisms. This entails to its not-so-immediate response to the virus outbreak; relations with the WHO; and Taiwan's membership blockade in the global health body. &nbsp;

In this context, several debates have been arising, which situate around China's accountability as a major global power and WHO's capability towards global health governance. Deliberations have been persisting over China's growing political weight in this global health body in the backdrop of the increasing hostility between China and Taiwan, and the WHO's acknowledgement of 'One China' Policy. Such has corroborated to the exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO, and the former's limited access to timely information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these debates need to be viewed in light of how China plans to achieve its goal of national unification with Taiwan to sustain its political leadership; how Beijing plans to reshape the global order; and how it sustains its global governance model post-COVID-19. &nbsp;

China's approach to global governance under Xi Jinping has strived to realise its economic, strategic and political goals, enabling the country to achieve greater geopolitical gravity. However, it has also strengthened the wall around China to control the flow of information, ideas and capital. These characteristics have brought Beijing's foreign policy into the spotlight; particularly with the suppression of Dr. Li Wenliang's early warnings. A considerable amount of flak has also been drawn by the WHO from the international community, especially as its Director General (DG), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised China for "setting a new standard for outbreak control". However, such has been contrary to Beijing's containment of the virus which has increasingly been criticised by the global community for lacking transparency, legitimacy and liberty. &nbsp; 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/coronavirus-spread-china-must-allow-global-probe-to-ascertain-origin-of-covid-19-291113">Also Read: China must allow global probe to ascertain origin of COVID-19</a> 
 
In retrospect, one wonders what has prompted WHO to appreciate China so much when Beijing failed to curb the pandemic to spill outside China, and when the regime under Xi Jinping remained unsuccessful in realising the global consequences arriving from this virus. It becomes evident that the influence arriving from China's 'charm offensive' tactics over the WHO's decision-making process is the reason why the global health body's conduct towards China has been soft. WHO's departure on its perception of China is also visible if one compares how it criticised China during the SARS epidemic in 2002-03. Clearly, the WHO-China connection needs greater international scrutiny. &nbsp;

In fact, China, with its power clout as a UN Security Council P-5 member, has been blocking Taiwan's WHO membership, except for a brief period from 2009-16, when the latter participated in the global health body as a non-voting observer. This comes at the backdrop of Taiwan alerting the WHO in late December about the virus' inter-human transmission potential while accusing the organization of its failure to communicate the early warnings. Taiwan's exclusion from WHO, due to China's claim on it being a part of its territory, indicated Beijing's mounting strategic clout in the multilateral arena. However, Taiwan's blockade also resulted in a relatively slowed global response towards the pandemic, which has now spurred as a health and economic crisis. If anything, the above arguments reiterate China's increasing levels of participation and engagement in multilateral institutions such as WHO, as a means of achieving its national objectives. &nbsp;

One also should not overlook the rising Chinese financial clout over the WHO. Under Xi Jinping, an increase has been noticed in the Chinese contribution to WHO, which has risen by 52 per cent since 2014 to approximately $ 86 million, pointing to the obvious. Even though China's contribution to WHO dwarfs in comparison to the US', having provided $893 million to the organisation in 2018-19, the former's rising influence on WHO cannot be discounted. In fact, China's partnership with WHO through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since 2017 to strengthen health security, remains an example of its aim to redistribute power in the existing multilateral institutions and acts as a catalyst for its desire to reshape the global order. Moreover, China's economic and strategic clout has proven beneficial for it emerge as a major player in the global health stage through global policy initiatives and investments in Asia and Africa. However, the COVID-19 episode has severely challenged China's leadership role in the international community, particularly in terms of global health; as Beijing struggles to sustain its responsibility and accountability. &nbsp;

Thus, in light of the diminishing faith in China's global governance model and the increasing criticisms towards China's handling of the COVID-19, challenges to China's leadership under Xi seem inevitable. Further, while the majority of the global community acknowledges China's claims over Taiwan, the exclusion of the latter from WHO amidst the widespread criticisms buttresses the argument mentioned above. China's national position in the international affairs, hence, seems to be witnessing a conundrum- of realising its national goals and interests amidst prevalent criticisms towards its governance; and of sustaining and strengthening its economy amidst an impending global economic crisis.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and China have been in the limelight since the onset of COVID-19. The growing camaraderie between both suggests towards China's "charm-offensive" approach of expediting its objectives in the global health body.

Both the World Health Organisation (WHO) and China have been in the limelight since the onset of COVID-19. The growing camaraderie between both suggests towards China's "charm-offensive" approach of expediting its objectives in the global health body. This holds great significance in the pretext of China's mounting financial clout in the WHO, especially as the latter effusively praises China for its efforts to contain the virus. Moreover, it is also on the issue of Taiwan, that Beijing's political authority in the WHO is most apparent. However, as COVID-19 becomes a pandemic and a threat to global economic growth, China witnesses its foreign policy and governance model being tested at the inception of criticisms. This entails to its not-so-immediate response to the virus outbreak; relations with the WHO; and Taiwan's membership blockade in the global health body.  In this context, several debates have been arising, which situate around China's accountability as a major global power and WHO's capability towards global health governance. Deliberations have been persisting over China's growing political weight in this global health body in the backdrop of the increasing hostility between China and Taiwan, and the WHO's acknowledgement of 'One China' Policy. Such has corroborated to the exclusion of Taiwan from the WHO, and the former's limited access to timely information regarding the COVID-19 pandemic. However, these debates need to be viewed in light of how China plans to achieve its goal of national unification with Taiwan to sustain its political leadership; how Beijing plans to reshape the global order; and how it sustains its global governance model post-COVID-19.  China's approach to global governance under Xi Jinping has strived to realise its economic, strategic and political goals, enabling the country to achieve greater geopolitical gravity. However, it has also strengthened the wall around China to control the flow of information, ideas and capital. These characteristics have brought Beijing's foreign policy into the spotlight; particularly with the suppression of Dr. Li Wenliang's early warnings. A considerable amount of flak has also been drawn by the WHO from the international community, especially as its Director General (DG), Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus praised China for "setting a new standard for outbreak control". However, such has been contrary to Beijing's containment of the virus which has increasingly been criticised by the global community for lacking transparency, legitimacy and liberty.  Also Read: China must allow global probe to ascertain origin of COVID-19 In retrospect, one wonders what has prompted WHO to appreciate China so much when Beijing failed to curb the pandemic to spill outside China, and when the regime under Xi Jinping remained unsuccessful in realising the global consequences arriving from this virus. It becomes evident that the influence arriving from China's 'charm offensive' tactics over the WHO's decision-making process is the reason why the global health body's conduct towards China has been soft. WHO's departure on its perception of China is also visible if one compares how it criticised China during the SARS epidemic in 2002-03. Clearly, the WHO-China connection needs greater international scrutiny.  In fact, China, with its power clout as a UN Security Council P-5 member, has been blocking Taiwan's WHO membership, except for a brief period from 2009-16, when the latter participated in the global health body as a non-voting observer. This comes at the backdrop of Taiwan alerting the WHO in late December about the virus' inter-human transmission potential while accusing the organization of its failure to communicate the early warnings. Taiwan's exclusion from WHO, due to China's claim on it being a part of its territory, indicated Beijing's mounting strategic clout in the multilateral arena. However, Taiwan's blockade also resulted in a relatively slowed global response towards the pandemic, which has now spurred as a health and economic crisis. If anything, the above arguments reiterate China's increasing levels of participation and engagement in multilateral institutions such as WHO, as a means of achieving its national objectives.  One also should not overlook the rising Chinese financial clout over the WHO. Under Xi Jinping, an increase has been noticed in the Chinese contribution to WHO, which has risen by 52 per cent since 2014 to approximately $ 86 million, pointing to the obvious. Even though China's contribution to WHO dwarfs in comparison to the US', having provided $893 million to the organisation in 2018-19, the former's rising influence on WHO cannot be discounted. In fact, China's partnership with WHO through the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) since 2017 to strengthen health security, remains an example of its aim to redistribute power in the existing multilateral institutions and acts as a catalyst for its desire to reshape the global order. Moreover, China's economic and strategic clout has proven beneficial for it emerge as a major player in the global health stage through global policy initiatives and investments in Asia and Africa. However, the COVID-19 episode has severely challenged China's leadership role in the international community, particularly in terms of global health; as Beijing struggles to sustain its responsibility and accountability.  Thus, in light of the diminishing faith in China's global governance model and the increasing criticisms towards China's handling of the COVID-19, challenges to China's leadership under Xi seem inevitable. Further, while the majority of the global community acknowledges China's claims over Taiwan, the exclusion of the latter from WHO amidst the widespread criticisms buttresses the argument mentioned above. China's national position in the international affairs, hence, seems to be witnessing a conundrum- of realising its national goals and interests amidst prevalent criticisms towards its governance; and of sustaining and strengthening its economy amidst an impending global economic crisis. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

As coronavirus becomes a global threat, WHO-China ties need greater international scrutiny

New Delhi faces a tricky balancing act now as leaders from around the world have requested India for the supply of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to fight COVID-19.

The Coronavirus outbreak forced India to ban the export of hydroxychloroquine and its formulations.

The United States has the maximum number of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/modi-trump-agree-to-deploy-full-strength-of-india-us-partnership-to-fight-covid-19-290605">Coronavirus cases</a> in the world. The Trump administration is betting on hydroxychloroquine to treat the patients.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/coronavirus-trump-requests-pm-modi-to-supply-hydroxychloroquine-tablets-290653">US President Donald Trump</a> wants India to lift the export restrictions.

Meanwhile, scientists&nbsp;still do not&nbsp;back&nbsp;<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/looks-like-hydroxychloroquine-is-having-some-good-results-on-coronavirus-patients-says-trump-290522">hydroxychloroquine</a>&nbsp;completely, but governments across the globe still want to build a stockpile.

Furthermore, US President Trump is not the only leader to reach out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President of Brazil - Jair Bolsonaro too wants help from India. He made a call to the Indian Prime Minister to ensure a steady supply of hydroxychloroquine for Brazil.

India has got similar requests from at least 30 countries by now - this includes SAARC nations, as well as, Indonesia and the UAE.

Reportedly, many leaders have made a personal appeal to Prime Minister Modi.

Being the leading supplier of generic drugs in the world, India ranks third in global pharmaceutical production.&nbsp;According to reports, India's share in the global market is around 20 per cent.

Hydroxychloroquine is an inexpensive drug, but now its purchase has been severely restricted. India has the capacity to handle big orders, members of the pharmaceutical industry say they can serve all markets, including orders from foreign governments.

Right now, India's confirmed cases are far less than the world's worst-affected countries and Indian companies can fill the global supply gap. But, if the infections rise at a rapid rate, India will have to think twice before exporting to the world.

On Saturday, India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced the total prohibition on export of hydroxychloroquine &amp; formulations made of hydroxychloroquine "without exception".

The global COVID-19 death toll is inching towards 70,530. Close to 1,287,168 positive cases have wreaked havoc on the health care systems across the world with no clear breakthrough yet on the treatment of the deadly disease. 
 
(With inputs from agencies)

New Delhi faces a tricky balancing act now as leaders from around the world have requested India for the supply of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to fight COVID-19.

New Delhi faces a tricky balancing act now as leaders from around the world have requested India for the supply of the anti-malarial drug hydroxychloroquine to fight COVID-19. The Coronavirus outbreak forced India to ban the export of hydroxychloroquine and its formulations. The United States has the maximum number of Coronavirus cases in the world. The Trump administration is betting on hydroxychloroquine to treat the patients. US President Donald Trump wants India to lift the export restrictions. Meanwhile, scientists still do not back hydroxychloroquine completely, but governments across the globe still want to build a stockpile. Furthermore, US President Trump is not the only leader to reach out to Prime Minister Narendra Modi. President of Brazil - Jair Bolsonaro too wants help from India. He made a call to the Indian Prime Minister to ensure a steady supply of hydroxychloroquine for Brazil. India has got similar requests from at least 30 countries by now - this includes SAARC nations, as well as, Indonesia and the UAE. Reportedly, many leaders have made a personal appeal to Prime Minister Modi. Being the leading supplier of generic drugs in the world, India ranks third in global pharmaceutical production. According to reports, India's share in the global market is around 20 per cent. Hydroxychloroquine is an inexpensive drug, but now its purchase has been severely restricted. India has the capacity to handle big orders, members of the pharmaceutical industry say they can serve all markets, including orders from foreign governments. Right now, India's confirmed cases are far less than the world's worst-affected countries and Indian companies can fill the global supply gap. But, if the infections rise at a rapid rate, India will have to think twice before exporting to the world. On Saturday, India's Directorate General of Foreign Trade announced the total prohibition on export of hydroxychloroquine & formulations made of hydroxychloroquine "without exception". The global COVID-19 death toll is inching towards 70,530. Close to 1,287,168 positive cases have wreaked havoc on the health care systems across the world with no clear breakthrough yet on the treatment of the deadly disease. (With inputs from agencies)

Coronavirus outbreak: World turns to India for anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine

By Niema Moshiri

When you hear the term “evolutionary tree,” you may think of Charles Darwin and the study of the relationships between different species over the span of millions of years.

While the concept of an “evolutionary tree” originated in Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” one can apply this concept to anything that evolves, including viruses. Scientists can study the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to learn more about how the genes of the virus function. It is also useful to make inferences about the spread of the virus around the world, and what type of vaccine may be most effective.

I am a bioinformatician who studies the relationships between epidemics and viral evolution, and I am among the many researchers now studying the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 because it can help researchers and public health officials track the spread of the virus over time. What we are finding is that the SARS-CoV-2 virus appears to be mutating more slowly than the seasonal flu which may allow scientists to develop a vaccine.

How do sequences evolve? 
 
Viruses evolve by mutating. That is, there are changes in their genetic code over time. The way it happens is a little like that game of telephone. Amy is the first player, and her word is “CAT.” She whispers her word to Ben, who accidentally hears “MAT.” Ben whispers his word to Carlos, who hears “MAD.” As the game of telephone goes on, the word will transform further and further away from its original form.

We can think of a biological genetic material as a sequence of letters, and over time, sequences mutate: The letters of the sequence can change. Scientists have developed various models of sequence evolution to help them study how mutations occur over time.

Much like our game of telephone, the genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus changes over time: Mutations occur randomly, and any changes that occur in a given virus will be inherited by all copies of the next generation. Then, much as we could try to decode how “CAT” became “MAD,” scientists can use models on genetic evolution to try to determine the most likely evolutionary history of the virus.

How can we apply this to viruses like COVID-19? 
 
DNA sequencing is the process of experimentally finding the sequence of nucleotides (A, C, G and T) – the chemical building blocks of genes – of a piece of DNA. DNA sequencing is largely used to study human diseases and genetics, but in recent years, sequencing has become a routine part of viral point of care, and as sequencing becomes cheaper and cheaper, viral sequencing will become even more frequent as time progresses.

RNA is a molecule similar to DNA, and it is essentially a temporary copy of a short segment of DNA. Specifically, in the central dogma of biology, DNA is transcribed into RNA. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, meaning our DNA sequencing technologies cannot directly decode its sequence. However, scientists can first reverse transcribe the RNA of the virus into complementary DNA (or cDNA), which can then be sequenced.

Given a collection of viral genome sequences, we can use our models of sequence evolution to predict the virus’s history, and we can use this to answer questions like, “How fast do mutations occur?” or “Where in the genome do mutations occur?” Knowing which genes are mutating frequently can be useful in drug design.

Tracking how viruses have changed in a location can also answer questions like, “How many separate outbreaks exist in my community?” This type of information can help public health officials contain the spread of the virus.

For COVID-19, there has been a global initiative to share viral genomes with all scientists. Given a collection of sequences with sample dates, scientists can infer the evolutionary history of the samples in real-time and use the information to infer the history of transmissions.

One such initiative is Nextstrain, an open-source project that provides users real-time reports of the spread of seasonal influenza, Ebola and many other infectious diseases. Most recently, they have been spearheading the evolutionary tracking of COVID-19 by providing a real-time analysis as well as a situation report meant to be readable by the general public. Further, they enable the global population to benefit from their efforts by translating the situation report to many other languages.

As the amount of available information grows, scientists need faster tools to be able to crunch the numbers. My lab at UC San Diego, in collaboration with the System Energy Efficiency (SEE) Lab led by Professor Tajana Šimunić Rosing, is working to create new algorithms, software tools and computer hardware to make the real-time analysis of the COVID-19 epidemic more feasible.

What have we learned about the epidemic? 
 
Based on current data, it seems as though SARS-CoV-2 mutates much more slowly than the seasonal flu. Specifically, SARS-CoV-2 seems to have a mutation rate of less than 25 mutations per year, whereas the seasonal flu has a mutation rate of almost 50 mutations per year.

Given that the SARS-CoV-2 genome is almost twice as large as the seasonal flu genome, it seems as though the seasonal flu mutates roughly four times as fast as SARS-CoV-2. The fact that the seasonal flu mutates so quickly is precisely why it is able to evade our vaccines, so the significantly slower mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 gives us hope for the potential development of effective long-lasting vaccines against the virus.

(Niema Moshiri is Assistant Teaching Professor of Computer Science &amp; Engineering, University of California San Diego)

(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read <a href="https://theconversation.com/heres-how-scientists-are-tracking-the-genetic-evolution-of-covid-19-134201">the original article</a>)

 
&nbsp;

By Niema Moshiri When you hear the term “evolutionary tree,” you may think of Charles Darwin and the study of the relationships between different species over the span of millions of years.

By Niema Moshiri When you hear the term “evolutionary tree,” you may think of Charles Darwin and the study of the relationships between different species over the span of millions of years. While the concept of an “evolutionary tree” originated in Darwin’s “On the Origin of Species,” one can apply this concept to anything that evolves, including viruses. Scientists can study the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 to learn more about how the genes of the virus function. It is also useful to make inferences about the spread of the virus around the world, and what type of vaccine may be most effective. I am a bioinformatician who studies the relationships between epidemics and viral evolution, and I am among the many researchers now studying the evolution of SARS-CoV-2 because it can help researchers and public health officials track the spread of the virus over time. What we are finding is that the SARS-CoV-2 virus appears to be mutating more slowly than the seasonal flu which may allow scientists to develop a vaccine. How do sequences evolve? Viruses evolve by mutating. That is, there are changes in their genetic code over time. The way it happens is a little like that game of telephone. Amy is the first player, and her word is “CAT.” She whispers her word to Ben, who accidentally hears “MAT.” Ben whispers his word to Carlos, who hears “MAD.” As the game of telephone goes on, the word will transform further and further away from its original form. We can think of a biological genetic material as a sequence of letters, and over time, sequences mutate: The letters of the sequence can change. Scientists have developed various models of sequence evolution to help them study how mutations occur over time. Much like our game of telephone, the genome sequence of the SARS-CoV-2 virus changes over time: Mutations occur randomly, and any changes that occur in a given virus will be inherited by all copies of the next generation. Then, much as we could try to decode how “CAT” became “MAD,” scientists can use models on genetic evolution to try to determine the most likely evolutionary history of the virus. How can we apply this to viruses like COVID-19? DNA sequencing is the process of experimentally finding the sequence of nucleotides (A, C, G and T) – the chemical building blocks of genes – of a piece of DNA. DNA sequencing is largely used to study human diseases and genetics, but in recent years, sequencing has become a routine part of viral point of care, and as sequencing becomes cheaper and cheaper, viral sequencing will become even more frequent as time progresses. RNA is a molecule similar to DNA, and it is essentially a temporary copy of a short segment of DNA. Specifically, in the central dogma of biology, DNA is transcribed into RNA. SARS-CoV-2 is an RNA virus, meaning our DNA sequencing technologies cannot directly decode its sequence. However, scientists can first reverse transcribe the RNA of the virus into complementary DNA (or cDNA), which can then be sequenced. Given a collection of viral genome sequences, we can use our models of sequence evolution to predict the virus’s history, and we can use this to answer questions like, “How fast do mutations occur?” or “Where in the genome do mutations occur?” Knowing which genes are mutating frequently can be useful in drug design. Tracking how viruses have changed in a location can also answer questions like, “How many separate outbreaks exist in my community?” This type of information can help public health officials contain the spread of the virus. For COVID-19, there has been a global initiative to share viral genomes with all scientists. Given a collection of sequences with sample dates, scientists can infer the evolutionary history of the samples in real-time and use the information to infer the history of transmissions. One such initiative is Nextstrain, an open-source project that provides users real-time reports of the spread of seasonal influenza, Ebola and many other infectious diseases. Most recently, they have been spearheading the evolutionary tracking of COVID-19 by providing a real-time analysis as well as a situation report meant to be readable by the general public. Further, they enable the global population to benefit from their efforts by translating the situation report to many other languages. As the amount of available information grows, scientists need faster tools to be able to crunch the numbers. My lab at UC San Diego, in collaboration with the System Energy Efficiency (SEE) Lab led by Professor Tajana Šimunić Rosing, is working to create new algorithms, software tools and computer hardware to make the real-time analysis of the COVID-19 epidemic more feasible. What have we learned about the epidemic? Based on current data, it seems as though SARS-CoV-2 mutates much more slowly than the seasonal flu. Specifically, SARS-CoV-2 seems to have a mutation rate of less than 25 mutations per year, whereas the seasonal flu has a mutation rate of almost 50 mutations per year. Given that the SARS-CoV-2 genome is almost twice as large as the seasonal flu genome, it seems as though the seasonal flu mutates roughly four times as fast as SARS-CoV-2. The fact that the seasonal flu mutates so quickly is precisely why it is able to evade our vaccines, so the significantly slower mutation rate of SARS-CoV-2 gives us hope for the potential development of effective long-lasting vaccines against the virus. (Niema Moshiri is Assistant Teaching Professor of Computer Science & Engineering, University of California San Diego) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

Here’s how scientists are tracking the genetic evolution of COVID-19

The world has come to a standstill while the global economy and markets are in a tailspin. While the global economy is possibly heading into a recession, there is still hope of quick recovery&nbsp;if the virus starts subsiding in a month or two.

Central banks and governments are going all out to contain economic collapse. Still enough damage is caused and the economy can be as bad as the 2008 crisis or even worse. Although if we look across the globe different areas are painted with a different brush. So, let’s try to find out what’s in store for the world in an era after the Coronavirus crisis is over.

The US damaged severely but its growth magnets still intact: An optimist of all times, US President Donald Trump has also declared this is bad and more than 100,000 people can die in the US. Various estimates suggest that the US economy is slipping into recession while unemployment is shooting up.&nbsp;

Its condition will be critical but will recover strongly because before Coronavirus crisis struck, the world's largest economy&nbsp;was on a strong footing. Its GDP grew at a moderate pace, unemployment was at a 50-year low and its global banks were strong. So, a strong foundation gives hope of a revival. Besides this, its three growth magnets would continue to attract the best talent. The top layer of finance, tech and show business would love to work in Wall Street, Silicon Valley and Hollywood now, even at faster rates because the rest of the world is relatively more damaged. Therefore, it is likely to emerge out of ashes like a phoenix.

China: 
 
Even before Coronavirus pandemic struck, the Chinese GDP growth rate was at 30 years low, its economy was showing cracks and trade war was damaging the Chinese economy. When the virus entered in this mix it slowed Chinese economy even further. During January-February, its industrial production figures and its retail sales data were very gloomy. It became clear that there will be a contraction in the Chinese economy during the January-March quarter. However, China was able to contain it just in Wuhan so the situation in the country is getting better. Economic indicators like PMI, shipping data, road congestion is reported to be improving. This implies that economic revival has begun. In fact, various reports predict that China will be the fastest-growing economy this year. Although risks associated with China are global and there could be a political backlash due to lack of transparency and fall in export demand (which contributes to 20 per cent of its GDP). So the Chinese economy showed signs of crack before virus but it was able to contain virus quickly. Therefore cracks did not break open and the economy could very well soon be back on track. Also with Coronavirus, the attention of the US has temporarily shifted away from the trade war and its high trade deficit with China. This will reduce China's risk for some more time.

India may recover quickly if the virus is contained in stage 2: In India, things were bleak even before Coronavirus knocked at its doors. GDP growth fell from 8 per cent to around 5 per cent, credit crunch, poor business sentiment, fiscal deficit breaching target, uneven monsoon and most importantly a fall in consumption were the risks already present. Even if the pandemic becomes worse, there is a possibility of economy quickly coming back on track and there would be lower damage due to coronavirus as compared to many other global nations. So, the increase in unemployment and bankruptcies would be relatively less than the rest of the world. The situation of NPAs was resolved to a large extent even before virus so that provided some cushion. Fall in oil price would also provide some relief. All that will ensure quick recovery and inflow of foreign money. Moreover, various estimations indicate that besides China, India can be the only major country to have positive growth.&nbsp;

So, the April-June quarter will be problematic but after that things will start improving and in October quarter we may see growth speeding up. &nbsp;

Europe: 
 
The European economy was already weak due to double whammy of a trade war and Brexit. Germany, UK even went in contraction for a quarter last year, even for October-December quarter UK GDP stagnated. Due to the ageing population coronavirus shook the continent and can cause long-lasting impact. Brexit negotiations are not on the best footing also. European Union is unable to come up with joint action which indicates the underlying tension between the member states. So all of this poses a serious question about its recovery for a very long time.

Gulf: 
 
Gulf countries are facing a tough time as a fall in oil price will put huge pressure on income. Pilgrimage tourism, holiday tourism and expo events in UAE, Saudi and Iran will take a hit due to Corona pandemic. Since they need to give relief packages, there will be a strain on fiscal deficits. Postponement of Dubai 2020 Expo can impact UAE's plan to diversify the economy away from oil and tensions in OPEC+, with Saudi Arabia and Russia also pose concerns.&nbsp;

Stock Markets: 
 
Go for major indices of the US, China and India, while Europe and Gulf countries can be avoided for the time being. Once virus peaks and markets hit bottom, you can also start dipping in mid-caps.

Sectoral Situation: 
 
As people will be more concerned about health, there would be a large increase in health insurance and hence insurance and healthcare sector would gain. Some banks are quite stable so they would survive but weaker ones will struggle so the wave of mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector can be in offing. IT companies, providing specific services like video streaming, e-commerce, video and teleconferencing stand to emerge victorious as well. For internet giants, advertising revenue can take a hit. But they stand to gain sensational insight in the human mind as to how it reacted during different phases of virus and lockdown. This would help them significantly in attracting user on their sites, retaining them and even influencing them. Cargo and Shipping Industry will recover quickly as people may hesitate to go out,&nbsp;but would continue ordering online. New players like automakers are entering in biotech and new innovations can revolutionise the biotech industry.&nbsp;

Oil Industry: 
 
A fall in oil prices would also reduce the demand for its substitute goods like alternative sources of energy which would impact their development. Since lockdown shows the viability of working from home, commercial real estate can suffer. Due to the rise in unemployment, there isn't any likely rapid recovery in FMCG sector but high ticket items like real estate, passenger vehicles and luxury goods will take even longer to recover. Recovery in Aviation and Tourism will be slow due to the double whammy of rising unemployment and fear of the pandemic. 
For individual stocks company’s management can be the best gauge. As in such time, past data may not be able to indicate future development but efficient, creative management can give assurance that will come up with a way to navigate this tide.

The current situation is like shock therapy and in the post-Coronavirus era, there will be a tectonic shift in the world economic order. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The world has come to a standstill while the global economy and markets are in a tailspin. While the global economy is possibly heading into a recession, there is still hope of quick recovery if the virus starts subsiding in a month or two.

The world has come to a standstill while the global economy and markets are in a tailspin. While the global economy is possibly heading into a recession, there is still hope of quick recovery if the virus starts subsiding in a month or two. Central banks and governments are going all out to contain economic collapse. Still enough damage is caused and the economy can be as bad as the 2008 crisis or even worse. Although if we look across the globe different areas are painted with a different brush. So, let’s try to find out what’s in store for the world in an era after the Coronavirus crisis is over. The US damaged severely but its growth magnets still intact: An optimist of all times, US President Donald Trump has also declared this is bad and more than 100,000 people can die in the US. Various estimates suggest that the US economy is slipping into recession while unemployment is shooting up. Its condition will be critical but will recover strongly because before Coronavirus crisis struck, the world's largest economy was on a strong footing. Its GDP grew at a moderate pace, unemployment was at a 50-year low and its global banks were strong. So, a strong foundation gives hope of a revival. Besides this, its three growth magnets would continue to attract the best talent. The top layer of finance, tech and show business would love to work in Wall Street, Silicon Valley and Hollywood now, even at faster rates because the rest of the world is relatively more damaged. Therefore, it is likely to emerge out of ashes like a phoenix. China: Even before Coronavirus pandemic struck, the Chinese GDP growth rate was at 30 years low, its economy was showing cracks and trade war was damaging the Chinese economy. When the virus entered in this mix it slowed Chinese economy even further. During January-February, its industrial production figures and its retail sales data were very gloomy. It became clear that there will be a contraction in the Chinese economy during the January-March quarter. However, China was able to contain it just in Wuhan so the situation in the country is getting better. Economic indicators like PMI, shipping data, road congestion is reported to be improving. This implies that economic revival has begun. In fact, various reports predict that China will be the fastest-growing economy this year. Although risks associated with China are global and there could be a political backlash due to lack of transparency and fall in export demand (which contributes to 20 per cent of its GDP). So the Chinese economy showed signs of crack before virus but it was able to contain virus quickly. Therefore cracks did not break open and the economy could very well soon be back on track. Also with Coronavirus, the attention of the US has temporarily shifted away from the trade war and its high trade deficit with China. This will reduce China's risk for some more time. India may recover quickly if the virus is contained in stage 2: In India, things were bleak even before Coronavirus knocked at its doors. GDP growth fell from 8 per cent to around 5 per cent, credit crunch, poor business sentiment, fiscal deficit breaching target, uneven monsoon and most importantly a fall in consumption were the risks already present. Even if the pandemic becomes worse, there is a possibility of economy quickly coming back on track and there would be lower damage due to coronavirus as compared to many other global nations. So, the increase in unemployment and bankruptcies would be relatively less than the rest of the world. The situation of NPAs was resolved to a large extent even before virus so that provided some cushion. Fall in oil price would also provide some relief. All that will ensure quick recovery and inflow of foreign money. Moreover, various estimations indicate that besides China, India can be the only major country to have positive growth. So, the April-June quarter will be problematic but after that things will start improving and in October quarter we may see growth speeding up. Europe: The European economy was already weak due to double whammy of a trade war and Brexit. Germany, UK even went in contraction for a quarter last year, even for October-December quarter UK GDP stagnated. Due to the ageing population coronavirus shook the continent and can cause long-lasting impact. Brexit negotiations are not on the best footing also. European Union is unable to come up with joint action which indicates the underlying tension between the member states. So all of this poses a serious question about its recovery for a very long time. Gulf: Gulf countries are facing a tough time as a fall in oil price will put huge pressure on income. Pilgrimage tourism, holiday tourism and expo events in UAE, Saudi and Iran will take a hit due to Corona pandemic. Since they need to give relief packages, there will be a strain on fiscal deficits. Postponement of Dubai 2020 Expo can impact UAE's plan to diversify the economy away from oil and tensions in OPEC+, with Saudi Arabia and Russia also pose concerns. Stock Markets: Go for major indices of the US, China and India, while Europe and Gulf countries can be avoided for the time being. Once virus peaks and markets hit bottom, you can also start dipping in mid-caps. Sectoral Situation: As people will be more concerned about health, there would be a large increase in health insurance and hence insurance and healthcare sector would gain. Some banks are quite stable so they would survive but weaker ones will struggle so the wave of mergers and acquisitions in the financial sector can be in offing. IT companies, providing specific services like video streaming, e-commerce, video and teleconferencing stand to emerge victorious as well. For internet giants, advertising revenue can take a hit. But they stand to gain sensational insight in the human mind as to how it reacted during different phases of virus and lockdown. This would help them significantly in attracting user on their sites, retaining them and even influencing them. Cargo and Shipping Industry will recover quickly as people may hesitate to go out, but would continue ordering online. New players like automakers are entering in biotech and new innovations can revolutionise the biotech industry. Oil Industry: A fall in oil prices would also reduce the demand for its substitute goods like alternative sources of energy which would impact their development. Since lockdown shows the viability of working from home, commercial real estate can suffer. Due to the rise in unemployment, there isn't any likely rapid recovery in FMCG sector but high ticket items like real estate, passenger vehicles and luxury goods will take even longer to recover. Recovery in Aviation and Tourism will be slow due to the double whammy of rising unemployment and fear of the pandemic. For individual stocks company’s management can be the best gauge. As in such time, past data may not be able to indicate future development but efficient, creative management can give assurance that will come up with a way to navigate this tide. The current situation is like shock therapy and in the post-Coronavirus era, there will be a tectonic shift in the world economic order. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

What's in store for the global economy after coronavirus is over?

The last 10 years of Indian media has been dominated with polarised debated focused on views and not on the ground report. The shift was visible in 2010 but became a norm by 2013.

This marked the demise of ground reportage, health and environmental issues, and most prominently, issues related to concerns of the common man.

The spread of Covid19, in turn, has positively impacted journalism. The pandemic has shifted focus on civic journalism and issues which directly affect common people. There is a renewed focus on science, medicine, social hygiene, medical breakthroughs and health. Both print and broadcast journalism, over a period of time, had become highly focused on political issues.

Covid19, through the weight of its impact, has pushed the discourse towards the welfare of the people. Even economy was treated as God. Media reportage across the world is&nbsp;now more focused on the welfare of the people than the welfare of the economic system. It is a big shift. This shift became visible during the reportage of migrant workers in India. The reports came from ground and migrants had a voice. It was not lost in mindless debates. The issue of their survival and daily hardship became the primary issue.

The pandemic also showed that Indian mainstream media has done very little investment in science and technology reportage. Across the world, people are dedicated to this sector as artificial intelligence and robotics technology have permeated every aspect of society.

Though health as a beat does exist in newspapers, but there are very few science reporters in the Indian media industry.

Covid19 reminded the media that excessive focus on politics cannot serve people alone. The current crisis also shows the limitation of news in polarised form as it doesn’t address real issues and only cater to polarised politics. Covid19 has impacted this binary.

In future, coronavirus may be treated like any other outbreak which disrupted the world, but I hope it creates a lasting impact on our journalism. Journalism has a sacred bond with its readers and viewers. The sacred bond does not rest on the success of circulation or high viewership models, it rests on bringing important issues to light which have a real impact on people’s life.

It's high time that changes which have happened accidentally amid the coronavirus pandemic, continue to remain part of the culture of journalism and do not succumb to bigotry and hate. I hope it remains true to its noble cause which is reporting facts which makes a difference to the well-being of the society.

Epidemics and wars in past have changed the political system and impacted the ethics of the society. So, will be the case with Covid19 as it will impact politics and society. The only difference is that Covid19, unlike Spanish Flu or Bubonic or Justinian Plague, would be covered extensively. And here the strength of the journalism will be tested.

&nbsp; 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The last 10 years of Indian media has been dominated with polarised debated focused on views and not on the ground report. The shift was visible in 2010 but became a norm by 2013.

The last 10 years of Indian media has been dominated with polarised debated focused on views and not on the ground report. The shift was visible in 2010 but became a norm by 2013. This marked the demise of ground reportage, health and environmental issues, and most prominently, issues related to concerns of the common man. The spread of Covid19, in turn, has positively impacted journalism. The pandemic has shifted focus on civic journalism and issues which directly affect common people. There is a renewed focus on science, medicine, social hygiene, medical breakthroughs and health. Both print and broadcast journalism, over a period of time, had become highly focused on political issues. Covid19, through the weight of its impact, has pushed the discourse towards the welfare of the people. Even economy was treated as God. Media reportage across the world is now more focused on the welfare of the people than the welfare of the economic system. It is a big shift. This shift became visible during the reportage of migrant workers in India. The reports came from ground and migrants had a voice. It was not lost in mindless debates. The issue of their survival and daily hardship became the primary issue. The pandemic also showed that Indian mainstream media has done very little investment in science and technology reportage. Across the world, people are dedicated to this sector as artificial intelligence and robotics technology have permeated every aspect of society. Though health as a beat does exist in newspapers, but there are very few science reporters in the Indian media industry. Covid19 reminded the media that excessive focus on politics cannot serve people alone. The current crisis also shows the limitation of news in polarised form as it doesn’t address real issues and only cater to polarised politics. Covid19 has impacted this binary. In future, coronavirus may be treated like any other outbreak which disrupted the world, but I hope it creates a lasting impact on our journalism. Journalism has a sacred bond with its readers and viewers. The sacred bond does not rest on the success of circulation or high viewership models, it rests on bringing important issues to light which have a real impact on people’s life. It's high time that changes which have happened accidentally amid the coronavirus pandemic, continue to remain part of the culture of journalism and do not succumb to bigotry and hate. I hope it remains true to its noble cause which is reporting facts which makes a difference to the well-being of the society. Epidemics and wars in past have changed the political system and impacted the ethics of the society. So, will be the case with Covid19 as it will impact politics and society. The only difference is that Covid19, unlike Spanish Flu or Bubonic or Justinian Plague, would be covered extensively. And here the strength of the journalism will be tested. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Coronavirus impact: Return of civic journalism

Quarantine, social distancing, self-isolation. While these words have always existed, it’s the first time we have understood their meaning.&nbsp;

The same actually holds true for all other words: hard work, compassion, family time, love, you only understand their meaning once you experience them.&nbsp;

The year 2020 is going down in history books and we are a part of it. Till now we must have only lightly imagined what the wars and other crisis would have been like, but only when it has come upon us, do we really understand its gravity. We have been discussing World War III happening in outer space but here it is, in a mode we least expected and probably creating more damage overall. &nbsp;

COVID-19 has become a crisis as it had all the elements from the spread, lethality, unpreparedness, no availability of vaccine and likewise, new things would always catch us unprepared, unless we identify early signs of disbalance in the environment, from increasing forest fires to natural calamities.&nbsp;

There is also an urgent need for an active risk management department in all governments which sparks an alarm as soon as they see any potential development which could potentially derail the society. We have also been investing in defence, missiles and bombs. All destructive, rather than constructively building up other areas of our systems. &nbsp;

It is also true that the time of crisis brings about the true self, thus this is a test. Did we think only about ourself or remembered the daily wage workers? Did we truly donate or just did it because we didn't want to be left out? did we actually feel&nbsp;bad for the ones who got infected or died? did we only think about our self or a bit about others as well? only we can judge what has been our intrinsic motives.&nbsp;

On the other side, I see that a lot of youth have been wasting their time instead of building themselves up by engaging in constructive activities, apart from spending time with family and catching up with friends, which is also important. One cannot wait for the storm to pass to restart, to really grow both bad and good times need to be used to equal advantage. It is surprising to see that most successful startups that we see today started just after the financial crisis of 2008 from WhatsApp, Uber, Pinterest to Airbnb. This is a good time to spend on planning on your current startup, writing the book which you have been putting off, taking online classes, ideation and many more things. &nbsp;

It also brings about the human potential and the fact that no matter how tough the day, it eventually gets better. After all, we have 4.5 billion years of survival planning in our genes, this may seem new to us but our genes have been programmed for this, time and again. If only we can identify what kept us going in this time we can find that as motivation later in such situations.&nbsp;

History informs us that every 100 years we have had such a crisis from Plague to Spanish Flu and the World has rebuilt itself, all anew. It does make us think if there could be a larger reason behind this, to motivate us to change our lifestyle, reduce climate change, self introspect to understand what matters.

We should prepare ourself for more such crises in the 21st century with the disaster taking different forms. Business must build themselves like Lego blocks which can easily dismantle and restart and have low debt and a diverse market, governments must more holistically employ their budget for different measures, individuals can know the difference between necessity and want and spend accordingly. But moreover, there is a need to understand the response time to a crisis and how we rise after it. &nbsp;

We may be in the middle of this crisis and things may get worse before they get better, however, we must not forget the lessons learned and bring about the necessary changes.&nbsp;

We have been using historic figures from 1919 to 2008 to measure the impact, however, our focus must be to work together and not allow this pandemic to create a new benchmark as a mother of all crises.&nbsp;

&nbsp; 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

Quarantine, social distancing, self-isolation. While these words have always existed, it’s the first time we have understood their meaning. The same actually holds true for all other words: hard work, compassion, family time, love, you only understand their meaning once you experience them.

Quarantine, social distancing, self-isolation. While these words have always existed, it’s the first time we have understood their meaning. The same actually holds true for all other words: hard work, compassion, family time, love, you only understand their meaning once you experience them. The year 2020 is going down in history books and we are a part of it. Till now we must have only lightly imagined what the wars and other crisis would have been like, but only when it has come upon us, do we really understand its gravity. We have been discussing World War III happening in outer space but here it is, in a mode we least expected and probably creating more damage overall. COVID-19 has become a crisis as it had all the elements from the spread, lethality, unpreparedness, no availability of vaccine and likewise, new things would always catch us unprepared, unless we identify early signs of disbalance in the environment, from increasing forest fires to natural calamities. There is also an urgent need for an active risk management department in all governments which sparks an alarm as soon as they see any potential development which could potentially derail the society. We have also been investing in defence, missiles and bombs. All destructive, rather than constructively building up other areas of our systems. It is also true that the time of crisis brings about the true self, thus this is a test. Did we think only about ourself or remembered the daily wage workers? Did we truly donate or just did it because we didn't want to be left out? did we actually feel bad for the ones who got infected or died? did we only think about our self or a bit about others as well? only we can judge what has been our intrinsic motives. On the other side, I see that a lot of youth have been wasting their time instead of building themselves up by engaging in constructive activities, apart from spending time with family and catching up with friends, which is also important. One cannot wait for the storm to pass to restart, to really grow both bad and good times need to be used to equal advantage. It is surprising to see that most successful startups that we see today started just after the financial crisis of 2008 from WhatsApp, Uber, Pinterest to Airbnb. This is a good time to spend on planning on your current startup, writing the book which you have been putting off, taking online classes, ideation and many more things. It also brings about the human potential and the fact that no matter how tough the day, it eventually gets better. After all, we have 4.5 billion years of survival planning in our genes, this may seem new to us but our genes have been programmed for this, time and again. If only we can identify what kept us going in this time we can find that as motivation later in such situations. History informs us that every 100 years we have had such a crisis from Plague to Spanish Flu and the World has rebuilt itself, all anew. It does make us think if there could be a larger reason behind this, to motivate us to change our lifestyle, reduce climate change, self introspect to understand what matters. We should prepare ourself for more such crises in the 21st century with the disaster taking different forms. Business must build themselves like Lego blocks which can easily dismantle and restart and have low debt and a diverse market, governments must more holistically employ their budget for different measures, individuals can know the difference between necessity and want and spend accordingly. But moreover, there is a need to understand the response time to a crisis and how we rise after it. We may be in the middle of this crisis and things may get worse before they get better, however, we must not forget the lessons learned and bring about the necessary changes. We have been using historic figures from 1919 to 2008 to measure the impact, however, our focus must be to work together and not allow this pandemic to create a new benchmark as a mother of all crises. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

The lessons we must learn from coronavirus pandemic

The world initially met the COVID-19 crisis in an uncoordinated fashion, with too many countries ignoring the warning signs and going it alone. It is now clear that the only way out of it is together.&nbsp;

The contrast between the silence of Europe’s streets and squares and the tumultuous, painful reality in many of its hospitals is heartbreaking. COVID-19 has not only Europe but the entire global community in its grip. It is already clear that the pandemic will reshape our world. But precisely, how will depend on the choices that we make today. &nbsp;

The coronavirus should be seen as the world’s common enemy. Though this is not a war, we nevertheless need a 'war-like'&nbsp;mobilisation of resources. But in times of crisis, our instinct is to turn inward, to fend for ourselves. This reaction, though understandable, is self-defeating. Going it alone all but guarantees that the fight will last longer, and that the human and economic costs will be far higher. Although the enemy has triggered nationalist reflexes, we can defeat it only with cross-border coordination – in Europe and beyond. We need a common international approach to the pandemic and for assisting the most vulnerable,&nbsp;those in developing countries and conflict zones. I have emphasised this point in recent discussions with G7 foreign ministers and many others. The European Union must and will be a part of the effort.&nbsp;

Now is the time to show that solidarity is not an empty phrase. Fortunately, that is already being demonstrated in Europe, where France and Austria are sending more than three million masks to Italy, and where Germany is taking in and treating patients from France and Italy. After the first phase of diverging national decisions, we are now entering a phase of convergence in which the EU takes center stage. For its part, the organisation is stepping up with decisions to facilitate joint procurement of vital medical equipment, a joint economic stimulus, and coordinated consular efforts to repatriate stranded EU citizens. Following a virtual meeting of the European Council, EU leaders have agreed to intensify their joint efforts, not least by developing a European crisis-management system and a shared strategy to manage the coronavirus.&nbsp;

The COVID-19 crisis is not a battle between countries or systems. At different stages of the pandemic, there has been reciprocal assistance between Europe, China, and others, demonstrating mutual support and solidarity. The EU supported China when the outbreak emerged at the beginning of the year, and now China is sending equipment and doctors to help affected countries around the world. These are concrete examples of global solidarity and cooperation; they need to become the norm. One way to think of COVID-19 is that it is accelerating history. Through whatever changes are in store, the EU must remain a unifying factor, by promoting joint efforts with China and the United States to address the pandemic and its consequences. 
 
Only with these three powers pulling in the same direction can the G20 and the United Nations make a real difference. Beyond international coordination between governments, cooperation among scientists, economists, and policymakers also needs to be scaled up. During the 2008 financial crisis, the G20 played a pivotal role in rescuing the global economy when it was in freefall. 
 
There is once again an urgent need for global leadership along these lines. There are four major priorities for global cooperation. First, we must pool resources to produce new treatments and a vaccine, which should be regarded as a global public good. Second, we need to limit the economic damage by coordinating fiscal- and monetary stimulus measures and protecting the global trade in goods. Third, we should be planning to re-open borders in a coordinated way whenever health authorities give the green light. Lastly, we must cooperate to fight disinformation campaigns.&nbsp;

The outcome of the G20’s recent virtual summit points in this general direction. But global and multilateral initiatives will need to be sustained and fully implemented in the days and weeks ahead. As the virus spreads globally, we need to pay special attention to its growing impact on fragile countries, where it threatens to exacerbate existing security crises. In Syria, Yemen, Gaza, and Afghanistan, millions of people have already suffered through years of conflict. Just imagine what would follow if the coronavirus emerges in the region’s refugee camps, where sanitation and health services are already overstretched and humanitarian workers already struggle to deliver aid.

Then there is Africa, which is of paramount importance. Owing to the 2014-16 Ebola epidemic and other outbreaks, African countries have some experience that Europe lacks in this crisis. But health-care systems on the continent remain weak overall, and the number of infected people is growing.&nbsp;

In many developing countries, a large number of people often have no choice but to go out every day and make a living in the informal economy. Worse, hand washing and social distancing can be far more difficult in these countries, because running water is not always available and families tend to live in cramped spaces. This is a fight that will need funding to win. Developing countries depend crucially on three sources of finance: foreign investment, remittances, and tourism. Yet all three are now being hit hard. 
 
Globally, capital flows have fallen dramatically as investors flee to safe havens and migrant workers lose jobs and are unable to send money home. We are facing a global recession; to avoid an economic crash in developing countries, significant financial support and credit lines will be needed – and soon. Coordination among central banks and international financial institutions is the only viable way forward. Finally, amid the overwhelming gloom, there is a chance to end long-running conflicts. There have already been some positive signs of cooperation between rivals. 
 
The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, for example, recently sent aid to Iran, which has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. No one can afford to wage multiple wars at the same time. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged, we should use this crisis as an opportunity to restore peace. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

(First published on <a href="https://www.project-syndicate.org/commentary/global-priorities-covid19-response-by-josep-borrell-2020-03">Project.Syndicate.Org</a>)

The world initially met the COVID-19 crisis in an uncoordinated fashion, with too many countries ignoring the warning signs and going it alone. It is now clear that the only way out of it is together.

The world initially met the COVID-19 crisis in an uncoordinated fashion, with too many countries ignoring the warning signs and going it alone. It is now clear that the only way out of it is together. The contrast between the silence of Europe’s streets and squares and the tumultuous, painful reality in many of its hospitals is heartbreaking. COVID-19 has not only Europe but the entire global community in its grip. It is already clear that the pandemic will reshape our world. But precisely, how will depend on the choices that we make today. The coronavirus should be seen as the world’s common enemy. Though this is not a war, we nevertheless need a 'war-like' mobilisation of resources. But in times of crisis, our instinct is to turn inward, to fend for ourselves. This reaction, though understandable, is self-defeating. Going it alone all but guarantees that the fight will last longer, and that the human and economic costs will be far higher. Although the enemy has triggered nationalist reflexes, we can defeat it only with cross-border coordination – in Europe and beyond. We need a common international approach to the pandemic and for assisting the most vulnerable, those in developing countries and conflict zones. I have emphasised this point in recent discussions with G7 foreign ministers and many others. The European Union must and will be a part of the effort. Now is the time to show that solidarity is not an empty phrase. Fortunately, that is already being demonstrated in Europe, where France and Austria are sending more than three million masks to Italy, and where Germany is taking in and treating patients from France and Italy. After the first phase of diverging national decisions, we are now entering a phase of convergence in which the EU takes center stage. For its part, the organisation is stepping up with decisions to facilitate joint procurement of vital medical equipment, a joint economic stimulus, and coordinated consular efforts to repatriate stranded EU citizens. Following a virtual meeting of the European Council, EU leaders have agreed to intensify their joint efforts, not least by developing a European crisis-management system and a shared strategy to manage the coronavirus. The COVID-19 crisis is not a battle between countries or systems. At different stages of the pandemic, there has been reciprocal assistance between Europe, China, and others, demonstrating mutual support and solidarity. The EU supported China when the outbreak emerged at the beginning of the year, and now China is sending equipment and doctors to help affected countries around the world. These are concrete examples of global solidarity and cooperation; they need to become the norm. One way to think of COVID-19 is that it is accelerating history. Through whatever changes are in store, the EU must remain a unifying factor, by promoting joint efforts with China and the United States to address the pandemic and its consequences. Only with these three powers pulling in the same direction can the G20 and the United Nations make a real difference. Beyond international coordination between governments, cooperation among scientists, economists, and policymakers also needs to be scaled up. During the 2008 financial crisis, the G20 played a pivotal role in rescuing the global economy when it was in freefall. There is once again an urgent need for global leadership along these lines. There are four major priorities for global cooperation. First, we must pool resources to produce new treatments and a vaccine, which should be regarded as a global public good. Second, we need to limit the economic damage by coordinating fiscal- and monetary stimulus measures and protecting the global trade in goods. Third, we should be planning to re-open borders in a coordinated way whenever health authorities give the green light. Lastly, we must cooperate to fight disinformation campaigns. The outcome of the G20’s recent virtual summit points in this general direction. But global and multilateral initiatives will need to be sustained and fully implemented in the days and weeks ahead. As the virus spreads globally, we need to pay special attention to its growing impact on fragile countries, where it threatens to exacerbate existing security crises. In Syria, Yemen, Gaza, and Afghanistan, millions of people have already suffered through years of conflict. Just imagine what would follow if the coronavirus emerges in the region’s refugee camps, where sanitation and health services are already overstretched and humanitarian workers already struggle to deliver aid. Then there is Africa, which is of paramount importance. Owing to the 2014-16 Ebola epidemic and other outbreaks, African countries have some experience that Europe lacks in this crisis. But health-care systems on the continent remain weak overall, and the number of infected people is growing. In many developing countries, a large number of people often have no choice but to go out every day and make a living in the informal economy. Worse, hand washing and social distancing can be far more difficult in these countries, because running water is not always available and families tend to live in cramped spaces. This is a fight that will need funding to win. Developing countries depend crucially on three sources of finance: foreign investment, remittances, and tourism. Yet all three are now being hit hard. Globally, capital flows have fallen dramatically as investors flee to safe havens and migrant workers lose jobs and are unable to send money home. We are facing a global recession; to avoid an economic crash in developing countries, significant financial support and credit lines will be needed – and soon. Coordination among central banks and international financial institutions is the only viable way forward. Finally, amid the overwhelming gloom, there is a chance to end long-running conflicts. There have already been some positive signs of cooperation between rivals. The United Arab Emirates and Kuwait, for example, recently sent aid to Iran, which has been hit particularly hard by COVID-19. No one can afford to wage multiple wars at the same time. As UN Secretary-General António Guterres has urged, we should use this crisis as an opportunity to restore peace. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) (First published on Project.Syndicate.Org)

Four priorities for a global strategy to contain coronavirus pandemic

After winning a second impressive term in May 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and brought the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) which sparked a widespread protest in the country.&nbsp;

The CAA divided opinion in India. Globally country’s image as an inclusive state that respects multiculturalism was dented.&nbsp; 
 
By February 2020, after five months of relentless attacks from the liberals, PM Modi astutely crafted US President Donald Trump's visit. The Trump-Modi grand show started from Gandhi’s Ashram in Gujarat. Modi received the much-needed endorsement by the most powerful leader of the free world. By the end of the visit and the beginning of Coronavirus outbreak, the narrative shifted from domestic discontent to a nation staring at the unimaginable social and economic crisis.&nbsp;

For Modi, it's an opportunity to prove to his people that he is strong enough to rescue India. He surely does not wish to make the same mistakes as his Chinese, American and British counterparts have made.

China

Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, Chinese President Xi Jinping is missing. On stage on the Great Hall of the people, he declared before the lunar year holiday, “Every single Chinese person, every member of the Chinese nation, should feel proud to live in this great era. Our progress will not be halted by any storms and tempests.” Since this speech, more than 3000 have died in China. With the economy slowing down, unending protests in Hong Kong and a trade war with America, Corona was a battle Xi did not need. Also, the country known for its capabilities and firm hold on public administration was blamed for the spread of the virus globally. Its prime position as an investment and manufacturing hub is challenged like never before. The man who was tipped to be the Mao of 21st century China faces a credibility crisis not just in his country but globally. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
United Kingdom 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
Boris Johnson proved to be a disaster in handling the spread of Coronavirus in the UK. In his handling of the situation, he came across as reckless and clueless. He was in such a good mood that he appeared non-serious about the consequences of the pandemic on his people and economy. He even failed as fine communicator to either impress or assure his people in this crisis. While the virus spread in Europe in February like fire, Johnson was away for 12 days in the countryside with his fiancée. The first acknowledgement to prioritise the virus as a challenge came from him on March 1, 2020. He went on casually, boasting that he continued shaking hands even with virus patients in hospitals.&nbsp;Today, he is COVID 19 positive. &nbsp;Spain and Italy gave repeated warnings to other European countries to avoid the mistakes they made. His “herd immunity” failed and quite lockdown was announced. Brought in to execute the Brexit, Johnson looks most unsustainable to fight the Corona pandemic. 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
The United States 
&nbsp; &nbsp; 
Donald Trump, throughout January and February, pushed a conspiracy theory that COVID 19 reporting was done to bring him down. Today, he is in conflict with his Governors. He has picked up the battle with media wishing them to be appreciative of him. But he is putting a great show in converting Coronavirus briefings into campaign rallies. He ain't sparing his rivals, critics and media. All this is scarcely helping his people. At a town hall in February, he declared that the United States lose thousands of people to flu annually and shutting down the country for Coronavirus is no option. On January 22 in a TV interview, Trump declared that the situation was under control. In the month of February Trump made the virus sound minor nuisance. He lost precious time to invest heavily in upgrading health infrastructure. Trump believed that warm spring weather could kill the virus. He blamed the media for panicking the markets. Only by mid of March, Trump administration tried to undo the damage of callousness and misinformation.&nbsp;

Today, the United States tops the chart of Coronavirus infected countries with over 1,74,000 detections and over 3400 dead. The only good decision Trump has taken is to stop travel from China and the announcement of a 2 trillion dollar stimulus. Experts believe with the death toll surpassing China, it's an astounding statement on the US handling of the crisis.&nbsp;&nbsp;

India 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; 
Prime Minister Modi like Xi, Trump or Johnson was not caught napping on Coronavirus.

On March 13, the Indian health ministry declared - coronavirus as a health scare. For the first time on March 19, 2020, Modi appealed for social distancing. Parliament of India was working till March 23, India did lose precious time to up its game on testing, health infrastructure.&nbsp;

However, unlike the UK and the US, Modi announced the lockdown even before the numbers went out of control. An expansive task force of bureaucrats, scientists and doctors are continuously monitoring the situation. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
PM Modi has successfully convinced India that he is in control. He also smartly collaborated with people on social distancing, fundraising and invoking the sense of brotherhood in this crisis. Lockdown truly is India’s only hope to avert the crisis. While the first part has ended for Modi well, the worst is yet to come. 
&nbsp; 
PM Modi, evacuated Indians from China, Iran and Italy. He also helped evacuate nationals like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru. Contrary to some in his party, Modi responded most scientifically, he sounded serious and sincere. But India failed to quarantine all who came from affected countries as an SoP. Thermal testing could not filter possible infections. India’s biggest challenge is its testing capacity. 
&nbsp; 
Consequences of Coronavirus on the already sinking economy will be dire. He is expected to deliver a robust economic package that will ensure jobs, manufacturing. Coronavirus is an opportunity for the Modi administration to prove that he has administrative skills beyond sharp optics. He has daringly put his neck on the line. 
&nbsp;&nbsp; 
Modi has demonstrated aggressive leadership in the time of crisis.&nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

After winning a second impressive term in May 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and brought the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) which sparked a widespread protest in the country.

After winning a second impressive term in May 2019, Prime Minister Narendra Modi abrogated Article 370 that gave special status to Jammu and Kashmir and brought the Citizen Amendment Act (CAA) which sparked a widespread protest in the country. The CAA divided opinion in India. Globally country’s image as an inclusive state that respects multiculturalism was dented. By February 2020, after five months of relentless attacks from the liberals, PM Modi astutely crafted US President Donald Trump's visit. The Trump-Modi grand show started from Gandhi’s Ashram in Gujarat. Modi received the much-needed endorsement by the most powerful leader of the free world. By the end of the visit and the beginning of Coronavirus outbreak, the narrative shifted from domestic discontent to a nation staring at the unimaginable social and economic crisis. For Modi, it's an opportunity to prove to his people that he is strong enough to rescue India. He surely does not wish to make the same mistakes as his Chinese, American and British counterparts have made. China Since the outbreak of Coronavirus, Chinese President Xi Jinping is missing. On stage on the Great Hall of the people, he declared before the lunar year holiday, “Every single Chinese person, every member of the Chinese nation, should feel proud to live in this great era. Our progress will not be halted by any storms and tempests.” Since this speech, more than 3000 have died in China. With the economy slowing down, unending protests in Hong Kong and a trade war with America, Corona was a battle Xi did not need. Also, the country known for its capabilities and firm hold on public administration was blamed for the spread of the virus globally. Its prime position as an investment and manufacturing hub is challenged like never before. The man who was tipped to be the Mao of 21st century China faces a credibility crisis not just in his country but globally. United Kingdom Boris Johnson proved to be a disaster in handling the spread of Coronavirus in the UK. In his handling of the situation, he came across as reckless and clueless. He was in such a good mood that he appeared non-serious about the consequences of the pandemic on his people and economy. He even failed as fine communicator to either impress or assure his people in this crisis. While the virus spread in Europe in February like fire, Johnson was away for 12 days in the countryside with his fiancée. The first acknowledgement to prioritise the virus as a challenge came from him on March 1, 2020. He went on casually, boasting that he continued shaking hands even with virus patients in hospitals. Today, he is COVID 19 positive. Spain and Italy gave repeated warnings to other European countries to avoid the mistakes they made. His “herd immunity” failed and quite lockdown was announced. Brought in to execute the Brexit, Johnson looks most unsustainable to fight the Corona pandemic. The United States Donald Trump, throughout January and February, pushed a conspiracy theory that COVID 19 reporting was done to bring him down. Today, he is in conflict with his Governors. He has picked up the battle with media wishing them to be appreciative of him. But he is putting a great show in converting Coronavirus briefings into campaign rallies. He ain't sparing his rivals, critics and media. All this is scarcely helping his people. At a town hall in February, he declared that the United States lose thousands of people to flu annually and shutting down the country for Coronavirus is no option. On January 22 in a TV interview, Trump declared that the situation was under control. In the month of February Trump made the virus sound minor nuisance. He lost precious time to invest heavily in upgrading health infrastructure. Trump believed that warm spring weather could kill the virus. He blamed the media for panicking the markets. Only by mid of March, Trump administration tried to undo the damage of callousness and misinformation. Today, the United States tops the chart of Coronavirus infected countries with over 1,74,000 detections and over 3400 dead. The only good decision Trump has taken is to stop travel from China and the announcement of a 2 trillion dollar stimulus. Experts believe with the death toll surpassing China, it's an astounding statement on the US handling of the crisis. India Prime Minister Modi like Xi, Trump or Johnson was not caught napping on Coronavirus. On March 13, the Indian health ministry declared - coronavirus as a health scare. For the first time on March 19, 2020, Modi appealed for social distancing. Parliament of India was working till March 23, India did lose precious time to up its game on testing, health infrastructure. However, unlike the UK and the US, Modi announced the lockdown even before the numbers went out of control. An expansive task force of bureaucrats, scientists and doctors are continuously monitoring the situation. PM Modi has successfully convinced India that he is in control. He also smartly collaborated with people on social distancing, fundraising and invoking the sense of brotherhood in this crisis. Lockdown truly is India’s only hope to avert the crisis. While the first part has ended for Modi well, the worst is yet to come. PM Modi, evacuated Indians from China, Iran and Italy. He also helped evacuate nationals like Maldives, Myanmar, Bangladesh, China, US, Madagascar, Sri Lanka, Nepal, South Africa and Peru. Contrary to some in his party, Modi responded most scientifically, he sounded serious and sincere. But India failed to quarantine all who came from affected countries as an SoP. Thermal testing could not filter possible infections. India’s biggest challenge is its testing capacity. Consequences of Coronavirus on the already sinking economy will be dire. He is expected to deliver a robust economic package that will ensure jobs, manufacturing. Coronavirus is an opportunity for the Modi administration to prove that he has administrative skills beyond sharp optics. He has daringly put his neck on the line. Modi has demonstrated aggressive leadership in the time of crisis. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Leadership lessons: In this time of crisis, PM Narendra Modi did what Xi and Trump couldn't

The coronavirus has come as a lesson in fixing our priorities. It has exposed how fragile the world can be in the face of a health emergency.

The pandemic is punishing citizens for the unpreparedness of their leaders. Because the disaster our leaders have always worried about is a nuclear war and not a health crisis.

In their quest for dominance, countries have invested in weapons and are now being defeated by a pandemic.

There's a lot of talk of 'flattening the curve', but no one will tell you whether our hospitals can even cope with the most flattened of curves.

Hospitals and quarantine facilities across the world are filled to the brim. They don't have enough life-saving machines masks, face masks and ventilators. 
 
WATCH: Missiles cannot defeat microbes 
&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-edit-missiles-cannot-defeat-microbes-289977/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

In Turkey, the health ministry has roped in a defence firm to manufacture ventilators. The company which goes by the name Baykar is racing against time to deliver 5,000 ventilators.

In Britain, the NHS has ordered 10,000 ventilators from a consortium of leading aerospace companies. This defence consortium is manufacturing, assembling and testing components for medical ventilators.

In India, Bharat Electricals, a public sector unit under the Defence Ministry has been given the task of manufacturing 30,000 ventilators.

In Israel, a missile production facility is being retooled to mass-produce ventilators. The Israeli health ministry says it only has 2,000 of them.

There's also a shortage of medicines and medical staff. Israeli soldiers have volunteered to hand out boxes of medicines and essential services to homes of the elderly.

Defence manufacturers are making ventilators, soldiers are filling up for the shortage of medics, perfume makers are making sanitisers and fashion brands are manufacturing masks. This should be an eye-opener.

The biggest threat to national security may not be foreign militaries but microbes. The world is fighting a tiny virus, all our weapons and defences rendered useless.

Armed troops and missiles cannot defeat the coronavirus, an efficient health-care system can. We need to prepare for an epidemic just as we do for wars.

&nbsp;(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world) 
&nbsp;

The coronavirus has come as a lesson in fixing our priorities. It has exposed how fragile the world can be in the face of a health emergency. The pandemic is punishing citizens for the unpreparedness of their leaders.

The coronavirus has come as a lesson in fixing our priorities. It has exposed how fragile the world can be in the face of a health emergency. The pandemic is punishing citizens for the unpreparedness of their leaders. Because the disaster our leaders have always worried about is a nuclear war and not a health crisis. In their quest for dominance, countries have invested in weapons and are now being defeated by a pandemic. There's a lot of talk of 'flattening the curve', but no one will tell you whether our hospitals can even cope with the most flattened of curves. Hospitals and quarantine facilities across the world are filled to the brim. They don't have enough life-saving machines masks, face masks and ventilators. WATCH: Missiles cannot defeat microbes × In Turkey, the health ministry has roped in a defence firm to manufacture ventilators. The company which goes by the name Baykar is racing against time to deliver 5,000 ventilators. In Britain, the NHS has ordered 10,000 ventilators from a consortium of leading aerospace companies. This defence consortium is manufacturing, assembling and testing components for medical ventilators. In India, Bharat Electricals, a public sector unit under the Defence Ministry has been given the task of manufacturing 30,000 ventilators. In Israel, a missile production facility is being retooled to mass-produce ventilators. The Israeli health ministry says it only has 2,000 of them. There's also a shortage of medicines and medical staff. Israeli soldiers have volunteered to hand out boxes of medicines and essential services to homes of the elderly. Defence manufacturers are making ventilators, soldiers are filling up for the shortage of medics, perfume makers are making sanitisers and fashion brands are manufacturing masks. This should be an eye-opener. The biggest threat to national security may not be foreign militaries but microbes. The world is fighting a tiny virus, all our weapons and defences rendered useless. Armed troops and missiles cannot defeat the coronavirus, an efficient health-care system can. We need to prepare for an epidemic just as we do for wars. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Why we must prepare for a health crisis like we do for wars

The beginning of 2020 brought a wild card entry in the global strategic equations in the form of Coronavirus pandemic, with Wuhan being the initial epicentre.

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/wion-edit-chinas-authoritarianism-vs-democracy-and-transparency-289530">China will continue to be accused</a> of doing global damage by hiding crucial information from the rest of the world. China has gone through a full cycle of initially hiding it, being late in quarantining affected people, not being able to prevent community transfers, taking harsh measures to control it later, declaring victory over a pandemic and reopening lockdowns.

The trends in January and February suggested a sheer drop in Comprehensive National Power (CNP) of China with the combined impact of US-China trade war, failing BRI and COVID-19. The last week of March saw the epicenters of COVID-19 m&nbsp;westwards with the US, Europe and UK emerging to be worst affected, and China appearing to be helping the world in combatting the pandemic.

What does shift in epicenters of COVID-19 indicate?&nbsp;

The coronavirus has affected 203 countries and territories around the world and two international conveyances. The worldometer indicates over 8.7 lakh cases of coronavirus with over 43,000 deaths and over 1.84 lakh recoveries. The WHO says the death rate continues to be low but the biggest danger being faced by mankind is its exponential rise due to community transfers. <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/explained-us-president-donald-trumps-misplaced-priorities-289696">USA has emerged to be the largest epicentre </a>of COVID-19 having more than 19 per cent of global confirmed cases with more than three thousand deaths.

Europe, with over one lakh cases and 30,000 deaths, is closely followed by Spain, Germany, France, Iran and the UK. All these countries took the pandemic lightly initially, resulting in quick entry into the third stage of community transfer. Now most countries in the world are struggling for capacity building to take the challenge of the peak period, which is yet to come. This lockdowns and quarantining has brought global economic/commercial productivity to almost a grinding halt. &nbsp;

China was quick to declare that it has conquered the disease with reporting 76,238 recovered cases, only 36 fresh cases, as reported by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China. Considering Chinese credibility, these figures cannot be taken at its face value, because some media reports of sudden silencing of more mobiles connections, restrictions on reporting COVID-19 cases create a doubt as to what exactly is happening in China. The community lockdowns, and stringent measures of social distancing helped China in flattening the trend. If we add the unreported cases, the potential of the second cycle of the pandemic in China cannot be ruled out. Chinese effort of shifting soft power balance is also evident from alleged effective use of its influence and media to propagate conspiracy theory against the US and later trying to shift the blame to Italy. The world, however, will continue to accuse China of this pandemic, with many legal notices already filed against it globally.&nbsp;

China cannot deny that the coronavirus broke out in China late last year whereas Wuhan was locked down on January 23. The US efforts to evacuate its people at that point of time were seen as ‘triggering panic reaction’ by Beijing, which had already over-delayed global response by then. China tried to shift the narrative to the belligerent superpower wrangling between Beijing and Washington great power competition, viewing each other through a lens of conspiracy theories, hostility, trading stinging barbs on everything - from the origin of the virus to permitting medical experts to visit Wuhan.&nbsp;

Meanwhile, China has a reason to be keen to repair its damaged global reputation caused due to mishandling of the crisis in the initial stage; hence it behaved so assertively in the diplomatic repairs including ‘Mask Diplomacy’. The reluctance to lockdown by the US might show that the US-China competition is moving China’s way, but the Chinese follies of making the world suffer by their pandemic cover-up would not put Xi Jinping in a comfortable position either, although it’s too early to predict. &nbsp;&nbsp;

What's happening inside China

The CNP of a country is a combination of hard and soft power and includes a sum of economic, military, technological, human resource, diplomatic and other levers of power. China, claiming to have successfully encountered COVID-19, has restarted its industries, with a focus on the largest emerging demand of medical equipment related to COVID-19. After the IMF Chief’s revelation that the global economy has entered a recession, which could possibly be worst of its kind, the Chinese economy seems to be benefitting from others' sufferings.

Domestic flights are commencing in most areas, life is limping back to normal. China after exporting the pandemic, is now making the best of COVID-19 economic model by switching from failing BRI to COVID19 related production.&nbsp;

China is projecting itself as a better resource provider in this crisis. China is now&nbsp;focusing on the production of testing kits, personal protection kits, ventilators and other crucial medical equipment. Beijing, therefore, leads the global supply chain with other major manufacturers across the globe being paralysed due to the pandemic. 
&nbsp; 
Why is the world silent?&nbsp;

The fact that Coronavirus was detected, and spread exponentially in Wuhan, China may find difficult to prevent the accusations from the world which is angered by sufferings caused due to pandemic. It is, however, understandable that not many have started blaming China, due to their domestic compulsion and priorities to check the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases, instead of involving in the blame game for the time being.&nbsp;

Most countries are also expecting Chinese assistance in their fight against the pandemic, as China is seen to have controlled the same, having gone through the peak of infection. Most countries also hope that a suspected creator of the virus is in the best position to find the antidote and help to combat it. Countries also do not want to disturb the supply chain of medical equipment from China at this juncture. The outcome of G20 virtual Summit was also on the same lines, wherein the G20 leaders issued a statement at the end of the summit calling for a coordinated global response to fight the coronavirus pandemic and adopting measures to protect the global economy, minimise disruptions in trade and take steps to enhance global coordination. If technologically advanced countries can utilize their capacities, especially on joint research and development of a vaccine, and strengthening the global value chain of supplies of medical equipment, it will help humanity.&nbsp; 
 
The G20 leaders pledged to inject $5 trillion into the global economy to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. I do feel that this issue of holding China accountable will not be dead but re-appear sometime in future. There are already few lawsuits already filed against China for the same and some more may be in the offing.&nbsp;&nbsp;

The credibility of global bodies

The pandemic has also exposed the Chinese influence in global bodies claiming to be neutral and serving for humanity. WHO knew about the outbreak of coronavirus in January 2020 and declared it as pandemic only on March 11, 2020, losing precious time for the world to respond, presumably under pressure from China. Also, how can WHO claim to serve humanity leaving out Taiwanese population? In recent G20 virtual Summit chaired by Saudi Arabia, the group has been too generous to WHO by agreeing to extend support to strengthen its mandate in fight against the pandemic, but the organisation needs to be held accountable once the crisis is over.&nbsp;

United Nation Security Council (UNSC) has not found it relevant to discuss the pandemic because China is a P5 country. Beijing chaired UNSC for March and the monthly Chair decides the agenda. It never felt the need to investigate when Wuhan was under lockdown and writings of the potential pandemic were on the wall already. UNSC certainly requires restructuring because in the current system China or any P5 country in its place, with its veto power can get away easily, even after putting humanity to risk. The suspicion over COVID-19 being a product of Chinese biological weapon research in Wuhan, could have been settled if China would have allowed investigation by world bodies.&nbsp; 
Strategic relations post-pandemic

Global strategic equations post-pandemic

Thinking positively, even if the world is able to fight this pandemic successfully, the global strategic equation will never remain the same. Coronavirus pandemic has exposed weaknesses of China, US and world organisations 
 
While China can be accused of a lack of transparency in handling the COVID-19 initially, the US &nbsp;took it lightly and reacted late enough. The idea of putting national interest over the survival of humanity will reduce the confidence of the world in the US and China. The western countries are used to fight the strategic competition by controlling trade and financial system and the power of alliance, but unpredictable events like this pandemic, climate change, elements of non-contact warfare can change the entire equation. China would also not be in a comfortable position, because the autocratic model cannot work for eternity. While China might be recovering and complimenting itself to have fought it better than democratic countries, the success of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong nullifies that claim.

The world will also realise its mistake of putting all eggs in Chinese basket, and hopefully, a reverse flow may occur post-pandemic. The credibility of the UN is at stake, which is increasingly been seen as a political tool of P5. In my opinion, unless it undergoes a drastic reformation, there will be many countries ignoring its relevance and resolutions. With a threat of the second cycle of COVID-19, no one can be sure that who is better placed in the future strategic equation. &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

&nbsp;(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

&nbsp;

The beginning of 2020 brought a wild card entry in the global strategic equations in the form of Coronavirus pandemic, with Wuhan being the initial epicentre. China will continue to be accused of doing global damage by hiding crucial information from the rest of the world.

The beginning of 2020 brought a wild card entry in the global strategic equations in the form of Coronavirus pandemic, with Wuhan being the initial epicentre. China will continue to be accused of doing global damage by hiding crucial information from the rest of the world. China has gone through a full cycle of initially hiding it, being late in quarantining affected people, not being able to prevent community transfers, taking harsh measures to control it later, declaring victory over a pandemic and reopening lockdowns. The trends in January and February suggested a sheer drop in Comprehensive National Power (CNP) of China with the combined impact of US-China trade war, failing BRI and COVID-19. The last week of March saw the epicenters of COVID-19 m westwards with the US, Europe and UK emerging to be worst affected, and China appearing to be helping the world in combatting the pandemic. What does shift in epicenters of COVID-19 indicate? The coronavirus has affected 203 countries and territories around the world and two international conveyances. The worldometer indicates over 8.7 lakh cases of coronavirus with over 43,000 deaths and over 1.84 lakh recoveries. The WHO says the death rate continues to be low but the biggest danger being faced by mankind is its exponential rise due to community transfers. USA has emerged to be the largest epicentre of COVID-19 having more than 19 per cent of global confirmed cases with more than three thousand deaths. Europe, with over one lakh cases and 30,000 deaths, is closely followed by Spain, Germany, France, Iran and the UK. All these countries took the pandemic lightly initially, resulting in quick entry into the third stage of community transfer. Now most countries in the world are struggling for capacity building to take the challenge of the peak period, which is yet to come. This lockdowns and quarantining has brought global economic/commercial productivity to almost a grinding halt. China was quick to declare that it has conquered the disease with reporting 76,238 recovered cases, only 36 fresh cases, as reported by the National Health Commission (NHC) of China. Considering Chinese credibility, these figures cannot be taken at its face value, because some media reports of sudden silencing of more mobiles connections, restrictions on reporting COVID-19 cases create a doubt as to what exactly is happening in China. The community lockdowns, and stringent measures of social distancing helped China in flattening the trend. If we add the unreported cases, the potential of the second cycle of the pandemic in China cannot be ruled out. Chinese effort of shifting soft power balance is also evident from alleged effective use of its influence and media to propagate conspiracy theory against the US and later trying to shift the blame to Italy. The world, however, will continue to accuse China of this pandemic, with many legal notices already filed against it globally. China cannot deny that the coronavirus broke out in China late last year whereas Wuhan was locked down on January 23. The US efforts to evacuate its people at that point of time were seen as ‘triggering panic reaction’ by Beijing, which had already over-delayed global response by then. China tried to shift the narrative to the belligerent superpower wrangling between Beijing and Washington great power competition, viewing each other through a lens of conspiracy theories, hostility, trading stinging barbs on everything - from the origin of the virus to permitting medical experts to visit Wuhan. Meanwhile, China has a reason to be keen to repair its damaged global reputation caused due to mishandling of the crisis in the initial stage; hence it behaved so assertively in the diplomatic repairs including ‘Mask Diplomacy’. The reluctance to lockdown by the US might show that the US-China competition is moving China’s way, but the Chinese follies of making the world suffer by their pandemic cover-up would not put Xi Jinping in a comfortable position either, although it’s too early to predict. What's happening inside China The CNP of a country is a combination of hard and soft power and includes a sum of economic, military, technological, human resource, diplomatic and other levers of power. China, claiming to have successfully encountered COVID-19, has restarted its industries, with a focus on the largest emerging demand of medical equipment related to COVID-19. After the IMF Chief’s revelation that the global economy has entered a recession, which could possibly be worst of its kind, the Chinese economy seems to be benefitting from others' sufferings. Domestic flights are commencing in most areas, life is limping back to normal. China after exporting the pandemic, is now making the best of COVID-19 economic model by switching from failing BRI to COVID19 related production. China is projecting itself as a better resource provider in this crisis. China is now focusing on the production of testing kits, personal protection kits, ventilators and other crucial medical equipment. Beijing, therefore, leads the global supply chain with other major manufacturers across the globe being paralysed due to the pandemic. Why is the world silent? The fact that Coronavirus was detected, and spread exponentially in Wuhan, China may find difficult to prevent the accusations from the world which is angered by sufferings caused due to pandemic. It is, however, understandable that not many have started blaming China, due to their domestic compulsion and priorities to check the exponential rise in COVID-19 cases, instead of involving in the blame game for the time being. Most countries are also expecting Chinese assistance in their fight against the pandemic, as China is seen to have controlled the same, having gone through the peak of infection. Most countries also hope that a suspected creator of the virus is in the best position to find the antidote and help to combat it. Countries also do not want to disturb the supply chain of medical equipment from China at this juncture. The outcome of G20 virtual Summit was also on the same lines, wherein the G20 leaders issued a statement at the end of the summit calling for a coordinated global response to fight the coronavirus pandemic and adopting measures to protect the global economy, minimise disruptions in trade and take steps to enhance global coordination. If technologically advanced countries can utilize their capacities, especially on joint research and development of a vaccine, and strengthening the global value chain of supplies of medical equipment, it will help humanity. The G20 leaders pledged to inject $5 trillion into the global economy to reduce the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic. I do feel that this issue of holding China accountable will not be dead but re-appear sometime in future. There are already few lawsuits already filed against China for the same and some more may be in the offing. The credibility of global bodies The pandemic has also exposed the Chinese influence in global bodies claiming to be neutral and serving for humanity. WHO knew about the outbreak of coronavirus in January 2020 and declared it as pandemic only on March 11, 2020, losing precious time for the world to respond, presumably under pressure from China. Also, how can WHO claim to serve humanity leaving out Taiwanese population? In recent G20 virtual Summit chaired by Saudi Arabia, the group has been too generous to WHO by agreeing to extend support to strengthen its mandate in fight against the pandemic, but the organisation needs to be held accountable once the crisis is over. United Nation Security Council (UNSC) has not found it relevant to discuss the pandemic because China is a P5 country. Beijing chaired UNSC for March and the monthly Chair decides the agenda. It never felt the need to investigate when Wuhan was under lockdown and writings of the potential pandemic were on the wall already. UNSC certainly requires restructuring because in the current system China or any P5 country in its place, with its veto power can get away easily, even after putting humanity to risk. The suspicion over COVID-19 being a product of Chinese biological weapon research in Wuhan, could have been settled if China would have allowed investigation by world bodies. Strategic relations post-pandemic Global strategic equations post-pandemic Thinking positively, even if the world is able to fight this pandemic successfully, the global strategic equation will never remain the same. Coronavirus pandemic has exposed weaknesses of China, US and world organisations While China can be accused of a lack of transparency in handling the COVID-19 initially, the US took it lightly and reacted late enough. The idea of putting national interest over the survival of humanity will reduce the confidence of the world in the US and China. The western countries are used to fight the strategic competition by controlling trade and financial system and the power of alliance, but unpredictable events like this pandemic, climate change, elements of non-contact warfare can change the entire equation. China would also not be in a comfortable position, because the autocratic model cannot work for eternity. While China might be recovering and complimenting itself to have fought it better than democratic countries, the success of South Korea, Taiwan, Japan, Singapore and Hong Kong nullifies that claim. The world will also realise its mistake of putting all eggs in Chinese basket, and hopefully, a reverse flow may occur post-pandemic. The credibility of the UN is at stake, which is increasingly been seen as a political tool of P5. In my opinion, unless it undergoes a drastic reformation, there will be many countries ignoring its relevance and resolutions. With a threat of the second cycle of COVID-19, no one can be sure that who is better placed in the future strategic equation. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

China's cover-up: Will coronavirus pandemic lead to changed world order?

By Enrico Bonadio and Andrea Baldini

As the coronavirus pandemic continues to claim victims around the world, the race is on to produce the right medicines to fight it. This includes developing a vaccine to stop people from falling ill in the first place, testing kits and drugs to treat those that fall ill with COVID-19.

In normal times, most pharmaceutical companies would not naturally collaborate in these endeavours. Developing new drugs requires huge amounts of investment. Drug companies seek and enforce patents to protect these investments, which give them a monopoly on drugs they develop. During this time, they can charge high prices for these medicines.

Naturally, at this time of global crisis, calls are growing for these companies to waive any proprietary rights they may have in order to facilitate the dissemination of drugs and devices that are useful in the fight against COVID-19. Some companies have taken the initiative themselves, such as US firm AbbVie. In March 2020, it announced that it would stop enforcing its patent on Kaletra, an HIV medicine which is currently being tested for effectiveness in the treatment of COVID-19, anywhere in the world.

Others, however, are still fighting for exclusivity. For instance, the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China recently filed for a national patent on the use of remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 and first developed by US company Gilead.

Gilead also came under fire when it applied to US regulators for “orphan status” for remdesivir. Under US law, pharmaceutical companies that develop treatments for diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people enjoy seven years of market exclusivity. But, after a public backlash, Gilead released a note saying it would rescind this application for orphan status.

Both the Wuhan Institute and Gilead have acted legally. But is their decision to use intellectual property law to limit other people from accessing their drugs ethical?

Reducing drug prices

If drug companies fail to waive their legal exclusivity rights, there are mechanisms in the law to balance these rights with the overarching public interest. One instrument is the compulsory licence of patents. This allows companies that do not own the intellectual property of a drug to legally manufacture and sell copycat versions of it during emergencies. The major international trade treaties allow governments to grant compulsory licences over the use of a particular drug within that country’s national borders, subject to certain conditions.

In the past, these licences have proved effective in reducing drug prices. In 2012, for example, Indian generic drug maker Natco was granted such a licence for Sorafenib, an anticancer drug, after that country’s patent office ruled that Bayer AG, Sorafenib’s patent holder, had not done enough to make the drug available to Indian citizens. As a result, local pharmaceutical company Cipla produced a version of Sorafenib that was 75% cheaper.

It is likely that we will soon see a spike in the use of compulsory licences aimed at tackling experimental treatments of COVID-19, especially if drug companies do not willingly share their knowledge. Israel for example has just issued a compulsory licence in relation to AbbVie’s Kaletra – this is what prompted Abbvie to drop its patent rights over this medicine worldwide. Israel has since put plans in place to import the generic version of Kaletra produced by the Indian company Hetero.

The Chilean parliament and Ecuador’s National Assembly have also adopted resolutions that would pave the way for the issuance of compulsory licences to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the German government has started plans to limit patent rights in view of the pandemic. And Canada is making similar moves.

In the face of an unprecedented global health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic, it has never been more necessary for researchers to work together in the search for better testing and treatment. This in turn may very well require companies to give up their monopoly rights on new treatments and technology.

In the past we have seen similar conflicts. In 1998, a group of pharmaceutical companies brought a legal case against the South African government to stop it introducing laws aimed at making various medicine more affordable, especially HIV and AIDS drugs. The main objection was that local laws reduced patent protection. The case provoked a lot of criticism worldwide and increased public awareness about the (sometimes) negative impact of patent rights on public health. The companies eventually abandoned the legal action.

Today’s moment of crisis calls into question, once again, the moral underpinnings of intellectual property law. These laws are crucial in incentivising the development of vital drugs, but they are far from perfect. Protecting patents must be managed ethically, which may very well result in companies occasionally forfeiting their legal rights in favour of wider public benefit.

(Enrico Bonadio is Reader in Intellectual Property Law, City, University of London; Andrea Baldini is 
Associate Professor of Aesthetics and Art Theory, Nanjing University)

 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/drug-companies-should-drop-their-patents-and-collaborate-to-fight-coronavirus-135241">original article</a>)

By Enrico Bonadio and Andrea Baldini As the coronavirus pandemic continues to claim victims around the world, the race is on to produce the right medicines to fight it.

By Enrico Bonadio and Andrea Baldini As the coronavirus pandemic continues to claim victims around the world, the race is on to produce the right medicines to fight it. This includes developing a vaccine to stop people from falling ill in the first place, testing kits and drugs to treat those that fall ill with COVID-19. In normal times, most pharmaceutical companies would not naturally collaborate in these endeavours. Developing new drugs requires huge amounts of investment. Drug companies seek and enforce patents to protect these investments, which give them a monopoly on drugs they develop. During this time, they can charge high prices for these medicines. Naturally, at this time of global crisis, calls are growing for these companies to waive any proprietary rights they may have in order to facilitate the dissemination of drugs and devices that are useful in the fight against COVID-19. Some companies have taken the initiative themselves, such as US firm AbbVie. In March 2020, it announced that it would stop enforcing its patent on Kaletra, an HIV medicine which is currently being tested for effectiveness in the treatment of COVID-19, anywhere in the world. Others, however, are still fighting for exclusivity. For instance, the Wuhan Institute of Virology in China recently filed for a national patent on the use of remdesivir, an experimental antiviral drug used to treat COVID-19 and first developed by US company Gilead. Gilead also came under fire when it applied to US regulators for “orphan status” for remdesivir. Under US law, pharmaceutical companies that develop treatments for diseases that affect fewer than 200,000 people enjoy seven years of market exclusivity. But, after a public backlash, Gilead released a note saying it would rescind this application for orphan status. Both the Wuhan Institute and Gilead have acted legally. But is their decision to use intellectual property law to limit other people from accessing their drugs ethical? Reducing drug prices If drug companies fail to waive their legal exclusivity rights, there are mechanisms in the law to balance these rights with the overarching public interest. One instrument is the compulsory licence of patents. This allows companies that do not own the intellectual property of a drug to legally manufacture and sell copycat versions of it during emergencies. The major international trade treaties allow governments to grant compulsory licences over the use of a particular drug within that country’s national borders, subject to certain conditions. In the past, these licences have proved effective in reducing drug prices. In 2012, for example, Indian generic drug maker Natco was granted such a licence for Sorafenib, an anticancer drug, after that country’s patent office ruled that Bayer AG, Sorafenib’s patent holder, had not done enough to make the drug available to Indian citizens. As a result, local pharmaceutical company Cipla produced a version of Sorafenib that was 75% cheaper. It is likely that we will soon see a spike in the use of compulsory licences aimed at tackling experimental treatments of COVID-19, especially if drug companies do not willingly share their knowledge. Israel for example has just issued a compulsory licence in relation to AbbVie’s Kaletra – this is what prompted Abbvie to drop its patent rights over this medicine worldwide. Israel has since put plans in place to import the generic version of Kaletra produced by the Indian company Hetero. The Chilean parliament and Ecuador’s National Assembly have also adopted resolutions that would pave the way for the issuance of compulsory licences to tackle the coronavirus outbreak. Meanwhile, the German government has started plans to limit patent rights in view of the pandemic. And Canada is making similar moves. In the face of an unprecedented global health emergency like the coronavirus pandemic, it has never been more necessary for researchers to work together in the search for better testing and treatment. This in turn may very well require companies to give up their monopoly rights on new treatments and technology. In the past we have seen similar conflicts. In 1998, a group of pharmaceutical companies brought a legal case against the South African government to stop it introducing laws aimed at making various medicine more affordable, especially HIV and AIDS drugs. The main objection was that local laws reduced patent protection. The case provoked a lot of criticism worldwide and increased public awareness about the (sometimes) negative impact of patent rights on public health. The companies eventually abandoned the legal action. Today’s moment of crisis calls into question, once again, the moral underpinnings of intellectual property law. These laws are crucial in incentivising the development of vital drugs, but they are far from perfect. Protecting patents must be managed ethically, which may very well result in companies occasionally forfeiting their legal rights in favour of wider public benefit. (Enrico Bonadio is Reader in Intellectual Property Law, City, University of London; Andrea Baldini is Associate Professor of Aesthetics and Art Theory, Nanjing University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

Drug companies should drop their patents and collaborate to fight coronavirus

Visiting Thailand or Dubai was cheaper than flying to Goa or Kerala a few months ago. The ultra-low or the budget airfares resulted in&nbsp;a travel boom and it helped in turning the dreams of foreign holidays into reality for many.&nbsp;

From Mauritius to Malaysia, the <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/india-mulls-up-to-16-billion-rescue-plan-for-aviation-sector-after-coronavirus-287453">budget or low airfares</a> enticed many to explore the new holiday destinations with millions in India and overseas flying for the first time. But with the coronavirus pandemic striking travel and aviation world, the dreams of many for foreign holidays may be over for now or delayed indefinitely.&nbsp;

From low-cost pocket-friendly carriers to full-service airlines, no one in the aviation world was prepared for a global crisis of this scale. Coronavirus pandemic has broken the backbone of the aviation industry and with this, it may be a long-lasting goodbye to the popular super saver airfare schemes or pocket-friendly budget airfare schemes.

Analysts point out with the global travel and tourism industry taking <a href="https://www.wionews.com/business-economy/banking-systems-may-need-help-if-handicapped-by-disruption-from-coronavirus-lockdowns-imf-289804">a massive hit</a>, the aviation industry might be limited to the essential air or business and need-based travel for some time to come. The low-cost airfares are a result of competition among the airlines to fill seats fast. With many airlines ceasing to exist in future as a result of coronavirus pandemic, low competition can result in airlines resorting to collusion to charge high fares for high margins.&nbsp;

The low-cost airfares were also the result of budget travel that has also taken a massive hit with low-cost holiday destinations like Thailand and Dubai locking down the cities. Also, expensive loans taken for aircraft purchase or high lease costs of the planes won't allow many low-cost airlines to keep flying. Low-cost airlines that started in the US and Europe were quite popular among bag packers or budget holiday goers and the model has been replicated worldwide. But with <a href="https://www.wionews.com/india-news/how-badly-is-the-indian-e-commerce-sector-going-to-be-hit-by-the-coronavirus-pandemic-289640">coronavirus pandemic</a>, everything can change. Sydney-based CAPA Centre for Aviation estimates that many carriers might go bankrupt by the end of May 2020 itself. &nbsp;

A Bloomberg estimate says the airline that are in danger of going under are Pakistan International Airlines, Spicejet, Norwegian, American airlines, Skywest, Air Asia, Asiana Airlines, Virgin Australia, Korean Air, China Eastern, and China Southern airlines.&nbsp;

"In short to medium term, the demand for air travel will remain low. Many airlines will go out of business. But the remaining ones will be more sustainable in the long term as there will be a capacity rationalisation. Some fare models will have to be reworked", said a veteran of the aviation industry who has served at managerial positions in both low cost and full-service carriers.&nbsp;

Based on the assumption that the airlines are not grounded beyond April 15, when the current lockdown ends, estimates suggest the Indian airline industry including companies providing auxiliary services like airports and ground handlers could suffer losses ranging from 3.3 billion to 3.6 billion dollars in the first three months of fiscal 2021 ending in June.&nbsp;

But the situation can change if governments across the world go for massive bailouts for the aviation and tourism sector including one in India.

"Advance cheap airfares could still come even after the Covid-19 crisis is over. After all it is an easier way to raise cash much in advance and many airlines will be in dire need of cash going forward", said another aviation industry executive.&nbsp; 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;

Visiting Thailand or Dubai was cheaper than flying to Goa or Kerala a few months ago. The ultra-low or the budget airfares resulted in a travel boom and it helped in turning the dreams of foreign holidays into reality for many.

Visiting Thailand or Dubai was cheaper than flying to Goa or Kerala a few months ago. The ultra-low or the budget airfares resulted in a travel boom and it helped in turning the dreams of foreign holidays into reality for many. From Mauritius to Malaysia, the budget or low airfares enticed many to explore the new holiday destinations with millions in India and overseas flying for the first time. But with the coronavirus pandemic striking travel and aviation world, the dreams of many for foreign holidays may be over for now or delayed indefinitely. From low-cost pocket-friendly carriers to full-service airlines, no one in the aviation world was prepared for a global crisis of this scale. Coronavirus pandemic has broken the backbone of the aviation industry and with this, it may be a long-lasting goodbye to the popular super saver airfare schemes or pocket-friendly budget airfare schemes. Analysts point out with the global travel and tourism industry taking a massive hit, the aviation industry might be limited to the essential air or business and need-based travel for some time to come. The low-cost airfares are a result of competition among the airlines to fill seats fast. With many airlines ceasing to exist in future as a result of coronavirus pandemic, low competition can result in airlines resorting to collusion to charge high fares for high margins. The low-cost airfares were also the result of budget travel that has also taken a massive hit with low-cost holiday destinations like Thailand and Dubai locking down the cities. Also, expensive loans taken for aircraft purchase or high lease costs of the planes won't allow many low-cost airlines to keep flying. Low-cost airlines that started in the US and Europe were quite popular among bag packers or budget holiday goers and the model has been replicated worldwide. But with coronavirus pandemic, everything can change. Sydney-based CAPA Centre for Aviation estimates that many carriers might go bankrupt by the end of May 2020 itself. A Bloomberg estimate says the airline that are in danger of going under are Pakistan International Airlines, Spicejet, Norwegian, American airlines, Skywest, Air Asia, Asiana Airlines, Virgin Australia, Korean Air, China Eastern, and China Southern airlines. "In short to medium term, the demand for air travel will remain low. Many airlines will go out of business. But the remaining ones will be more sustainable in the long term as there will be a capacity rationalisation. Some fare models will have to be reworked", said a veteran of the aviation industry who has served at managerial positions in both low cost and full-service carriers. Based on the assumption that the airlines are not grounded beyond April 15, when the current lockdown ends, estimates suggest the Indian airline industry including companies providing auxiliary services like airports and ground handlers could suffer losses ranging from 3.3 billion to 3.6 billion dollars in the first three months of fiscal 2021 ending in June. But the situation can change if governments across the world go for massive bailouts for the aviation and tourism sector including one in India. "Advance cheap airfares could still come even after the Covid-19 crisis is over. After all it is an easier way to raise cash much in advance and many airlines will be in dire need of cash going forward", said another aviation industry executive. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Coronavirus impact on aviation industry: Low-cost airfare schemes could be halted for a long time

China's live animal markets are a threat and the even bigger threat is China's virus bank.&nbsp;

Here's a theory that has been doing the rounds that this coronavirus was a biological weapon which was made in a lab and unleashed on the world.&nbsp;

However, there is no evidence to back this theory.

It's a fact that China has invested huge amounts of money to study viruses. China has built a giant lab in Wuhan - Wuhan Institute of Virology.

The website of the institute declares that it has preserved more than 1500 different strains of viruses. 
The same page declares that this facility is the largest virus bank in Asia.

The safety practices of these labs are under question.&nbsp;

A report by the Washington Times makes a major claim that Chinese government researchers isolated more than two thousand animal viruses, and carried out scientific work on them just three miles from a wild animal market identified as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney says there are serious doubts over China's ability to handle deadly viruses.

If the coronavirus outbreak is any proof then it shows that China doesn't like playing by the rules. It doesn't follow international standards and doesn't bother about&nbsp;transparency.

For some, this situation brings back memories of the Chernobyl disaster. The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred in1986.

In January, China had ordered a draconian lockdown to stop the coronavirus from spreading. Some Chinese citizens compared the lockdown to the disaster in Chernobyl. 
&nbsp; 
There are three reasons why the Chernobyl disaster became a metaphor for the coronavirus outbreak. One, both are disasters that could have been avoided. Second, both became worse because of government mismanagement. Third, both saw the government crushing questions and voices of dissent. 
 
If and when the world gets down to demanding answers from china, the role of China's virus banks must be investigated.

&nbsp;

China's live animal markets are a threat and the even bigger threat is China's virus bank. Here's a theory that has been doing the rounds that this coronavirus was a biological weapon which was made in a lab and unleashed on the world.

China's live animal markets are a threat and the even bigger threat is China's virus bank. Here's a theory that has been doing the rounds that this coronavirus was a biological weapon which was made in a lab and unleashed on the world. However, there is no evidence to back this theory. It's a fact that China has invested huge amounts of money to study viruses. China has built a giant lab in Wuhan - Wuhan Institute of Virology. The website of the institute declares that it has preserved more than 1500 different strains of viruses. The same page declares that this facility is the largest virus bank in Asia. The safety practices of these labs are under question. A report by the Washington Times makes a major claim that Chinese government researchers isolated more than two thousand animal viruses, and carried out scientific work on them just three miles from a wild animal market identified as the epicenter of the COVID-19 pandemic. Strategic affairs expert Brahma Chellaney says there are serious doubts over China's ability to handle deadly viruses. If the coronavirus outbreak is any proof then it shows that China doesn't like playing by the rules. It doesn't follow international standards and doesn't bother about transparency. For some, this situation brings back memories of the Chernobyl disaster. The Chernobyl disaster was a nuclear accident that occurred in1986. In January, China had ordered a draconian lockdown to stop the coronavirus from spreading. Some Chinese citizens compared the lockdown to the disaster in Chernobyl. There are three reasons why the Chernobyl disaster became a metaphor for the coronavirus outbreak. One, both are disasters that could have been avoided. Second, both became worse because of government mismanagement. Third, both saw the government crushing questions and voices of dissent. If and when the world gets down to demanding answers from china, the role of China's virus banks must be investigated.

Role of China's virology labs must be investigated: Report

By Samantha Vanderslott, Andrew Pollard, Tonia Thomas

Since humans haven’t previously been exposed to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), our bodies aren’t well equipped to deal with being infected by it. A vaccine would allow the body to safely develop an immune response to COVID-19 that could prevent or control infection.

But it takes time to develop safe and effective vaccines – usually five to ten years on average. Despite promising reports about potential coronavirus vaccines being developed worldwide, it could still take an estimated 12-18 months to develop one.

It’s becoming quicker to develop new vaccines than it was in the past as we can build on research from vaccines used for other diseases. During outbreaks, more resources and funding may also become available, which can speed up the process. Products might also be considered for use even before being formally granted licences to control the disease in severely affected areas during emergencies.

The development of a potential novel coronavirus vaccine is being partly led by experts who were already developing vaccines for other coronaviruses. This type of virus was identified as a possible cause of the next big pandemic as the other coronaviruses SARS and MERS have been responsible for two global outbreaks in the last 20 years. Research on vaccines for these coronaviruses was already undergoing clinical trials.

The first new vaccine to enter human trials for COVID-19 was developed by the US firm Moderna Therapeutics. About 35 other companies and academic institutions are also working on COVID-19 vaccines. Most are currently in “pre-clinical testing”, including one being developed by a team of researchers at the University of Oxford. The vaccine candidate was identified in January and is nearing the clinical testing phase.

During development, a vaccine needs to go through the following steps:

1. Basic understanding of the virus 
 
In the past, most studies of human viruses looked at how the virus altered or affected human or animal cells in the lab. Scientists first identify the proteins and sugars on the surface of the viruses or infected cells, then study whether these proteins can be used to produce an immune response.

In the present case, this stage was made easier for researchers after Chinese scientists found and published the genetic sequence of novel coronavirus in January. Researchers worldwide have been able to identify the structure of proteins that make up the virus, create a genetic history of the family of viruses, and determine when the first human was infected. It also enabled diagnostic testing kits to be developed, and lets researchers identify potential treatment options.

2. Vaccine candidates

This may involve isolating the live virus before inactivating or weakening it and then determining whether this modified virus, which is known as a vaccine candidate, might produce immunity in people.

Sometimes the live virus is not part of the process. Instead, its genetic sequence is used to make the vaccine. The genetic sequence can also be used to make recombinant proteins, a vaccine production method that has been used before for vaccines like hepatitis B.

Researchers now know how to manufacture and test the relevant vaccine and check it has been made properly. They even know about likely doses, including how many doses will be needed to build immunity. This background knowledge speeds up the development of each new vaccine made using the same technology.

3. Pre-clinical testing

Initial safety testing is usually carried out in animals to give an idea of responses in humans. These are also used to see how effective the vaccine is at preventing the disease, and allows researchers to adapt the vaccine.

During an outbreak, different research groups often work together to speed up this process.

4. Clinical trials – testing in humans 
 
This step is where many promising potential vaccines fail. There are three phases of a clinical trial:

1.Testing on a few dozen healthy volunteers, looking at how safe the vaccine is, and if it has any adverse effects; 
2. Testing on several hundred people for efficacy (a “target population” who are ideally those most at risk of the disease); 
3.Testing on several thousand people for efficacy and safety. 
 
Through these phases the vaccine needs to show it’s safe, leads to a strong immune response, and provides effective protection against the virus. During an outbreak, experimental vaccines may be used in severely affected populations if they’re at high risk of disease, before progressing to regulatory approval.

5. Regulatory approvals 
 
If regulators have approved similar products before, approval can be accelerated – although this is not likely for COVID-19. Use of a vaccine before full licensure can be considered in a public health emergency.

6.Production 
 
Once a vaccine has been produced at a small scale and passed safety tests, it can be used in clinical trials. However, significant manufacturing capacity, such as infrastructure, personnel and equipment, will be needed to produce large quantities of a vaccine for use. Quality control is also needed. All of these processes are very carefully monitored. Once licensed, policy must be developed to decide how to prioritise those who should be vaccinated, such as those in the most high-risk groups and locations.

Along the way, if any of these vaccine “candidates” are shown to be unsafe or ineffective, researchers must return to the laboratory to develop a new candidate. This is why vaccine development can be a long and uncertain process.

(Samantha Vanderslott is Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Sciences, University of Oxford)

(Andrew Pollard is Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, University of Oxford)

(Tonia Thomas is Vaccine Knowledge Project Manager) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/coronavirus-vaccine-here-are-the-steps-it-will-need-to-go-through-during-development-134726">original article</a>) 
 
&nbsp;

By Samantha Vanderslott, Andrew Pollard, Tonia Thomas Since humans haven’t previously been exposed to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), our bodies aren’t well equipped to deal with being infected by it.

By Samantha Vanderslott, Andrew Pollard, Tonia Thomas Since humans haven’t previously been exposed to the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2), our bodies aren’t well equipped to deal with being infected by it. A vaccine would allow the body to safely develop an immune response to COVID-19 that could prevent or control infection. But it takes time to develop safe and effective vaccines – usually five to ten years on average. Despite promising reports about potential coronavirus vaccines being developed worldwide, it could still take an estimated 12-18 months to develop one. It’s becoming quicker to develop new vaccines than it was in the past as we can build on research from vaccines used for other diseases. During outbreaks, more resources and funding may also become available, which can speed up the process. Products might also be considered for use even before being formally granted licences to control the disease in severely affected areas during emergencies. The development of a potential novel coronavirus vaccine is being partly led by experts who were already developing vaccines for other coronaviruses. This type of virus was identified as a possible cause of the next big pandemic as the other coronaviruses SARS and MERS have been responsible for two global outbreaks in the last 20 years. Research on vaccines for these coronaviruses was already undergoing clinical trials. The first new vaccine to enter human trials for COVID-19 was developed by the US firm Moderna Therapeutics. About 35 other companies and academic institutions are also working on COVID-19 vaccines. Most are currently in “pre-clinical testing”, including one being developed by a team of researchers at the University of Oxford. The vaccine candidate was identified in January and is nearing the clinical testing phase. During development, a vaccine needs to go through the following steps: 1. Basic understanding of the virus In the past, most studies of human viruses looked at how the virus altered or affected human or animal cells in the lab. Scientists first identify the proteins and sugars on the surface of the viruses or infected cells, then study whether these proteins can be used to produce an immune response. In the present case, this stage was made easier for researchers after Chinese scientists found and published the genetic sequence of novel coronavirus in January. Researchers worldwide have been able to identify the structure of proteins that make up the virus, create a genetic history of the family of viruses, and determine when the first human was infected. It also enabled diagnostic testing kits to be developed, and lets researchers identify potential treatment options. 2. Vaccine candidates This may involve isolating the live virus before inactivating or weakening it and then determining whether this modified virus, which is known as a vaccine candidate, might produce immunity in people. Sometimes the live virus is not part of the process. Instead, its genetic sequence is used to make the vaccine. The genetic sequence can also be used to make recombinant proteins, a vaccine production method that has been used before for vaccines like hepatitis B. Researchers now know how to manufacture and test the relevant vaccine and check it has been made properly. They even know about likely doses, including how many doses will be needed to build immunity. This background knowledge speeds up the development of each new vaccine made using the same technology. 3. Pre-clinical testing Initial safety testing is usually carried out in animals to give an idea of responses in humans. These are also used to see how effective the vaccine is at preventing the disease, and allows researchers to adapt the vaccine. During an outbreak, different research groups often work together to speed up this process. 4. Clinical trials – testing in humans This step is where many promising potential vaccines fail. There are three phases of a clinical trial: 1.Testing on a few dozen healthy volunteers, looking at how safe the vaccine is, and if it has any adverse effects; 2. Testing on several hundred people for efficacy (a “target population” who are ideally those most at risk of the disease); 3.Testing on several thousand people for efficacy and safety. Through these phases the vaccine needs to show it’s safe, leads to a strong immune response, and provides effective protection against the virus. During an outbreak, experimental vaccines may be used in severely affected populations if they’re at high risk of disease, before progressing to regulatory approval. 5. Regulatory approvals If regulators have approved similar products before, approval can be accelerated – although this is not likely for COVID-19. Use of a vaccine before full licensure can be considered in a public health emergency. 6.Production Once a vaccine has been produced at a small scale and passed safety tests, it can be used in clinical trials. However, significant manufacturing capacity, such as infrastructure, personnel and equipment, will be needed to produce large quantities of a vaccine for use. Quality control is also needed. All of these processes are very carefully monitored. Once licensed, policy must be developed to decide how to prioritise those who should be vaccinated, such as those in the most high-risk groups and locations. Along the way, if any of these vaccine “candidates” are shown to be unsafe or ineffective, researchers must return to the laboratory to develop a new candidate. This is why vaccine development can be a long and uncertain process. (Samantha Vanderslott is Postdoctoral Researcher in Social Sciences, University of Oxford) (Andrew Pollard is Professor of Paediatric Infection and Immunity, University of Oxford) (Tonia Thomas is Vaccine Knowledge Project Manager) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

Coronavirus vaccine: Here are the steps it will need to go through during development

To fight the coronavirus, citizens were locked inside their homes in China, a draconian lockdown was announced, online criticism was tracked and dissent stifled.

The World Health Organisation hailed Beijing's response. Essentially, it turned a blind eye to Xi Jinping regime's dictatorial diktats. Appreciating China's model&nbsp;is an endorsement to authoritarianism.

Beijing has been dishing out advice to some of the worst affected countries, asking them to follow the Chinese model, but the truth is democracies have performed better than dictatorial regimes.

For instance - South Korea, a democracy whose response is now considered as the gold standard. It reined in the virus without shutting anything down. In fact, Seoul's handling of the outbreak is just the opposite of China.

It is a response with transparency at its core, South Korea did not restrict the movement of people, instead, it implemented focused and mandatory quarantine for infected patients. The public was advised to stay indoors, avoid public events, wear masks and practice good hygiene.

These orders were backed up with aggressive testing. South Korea carried out up to 15 thousand tests a day. &nbsp;A comprehensive tracking system was implemented to monitor those infected.

Taiwan's response too was far better than China. Taiwan has reported a little more than 300 confirmed cases and only five deaths. After battling SARS, Taiwan set up a central command centre for epidemics.

After the coronavirus outbreak, the centre put together a list of 124 action items, this included a comprehensive effort to screen new arrivals from abroad.

Those who were infected were largely put under complete isolation at home. To ensure compliance, a fine of more than 33 thousand dollars was imposed. There were no mass lockdowns too.

The Singapore model has been praised by experts too.&nbsp;

So, in no way, China's&nbsp;model institutionalised oppression, erased facts and enabled a cover-up.

World leaders should be wary of the coronavirus dictatorship. As the case of China has shown, dictatorial regimes have only made this outbreak worst.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world) 
&nbsp;

&nbsp;

 
&nbsp;

To fight the coronavirus, citizens were locked inside their homes in China, a draconian lockdown was announced, online criticism was tracked and dissent stifled.

To fight the coronavirus, citizens were locked inside their homes in China, a draconian lockdown was announced, online criticism was tracked and dissent stifled. The World Health Organisation hailed Beijing's response. Essentially, it turned a blind eye to Xi Jinping regime's dictatorial diktats. Appreciating China's model is an endorsement to authoritarianism. Beijing has been dishing out advice to some of the worst affected countries, asking them to follow the Chinese model, but the truth is democracies have performed better than dictatorial regimes. For instance - South Korea, a democracy whose response is now considered as the gold standard. It reined in the virus without shutting anything down. In fact, Seoul's handling of the outbreak is just the opposite of China. It is a response with transparency at its core, South Korea did not restrict the movement of people, instead, it implemented focused and mandatory quarantine for infected patients. The public was advised to stay indoors, avoid public events, wear masks and practice good hygiene. These orders were backed up with aggressive testing. South Korea carried out up to 15 thousand tests a day. A comprehensive tracking system was implemented to monitor those infected. Taiwan's response too was far better than China. Taiwan has reported a little more than 300 confirmed cases and only five deaths. After battling SARS, Taiwan set up a central command centre for epidemics. After the coronavirus outbreak, the centre put together a list of 124 action items, this included a comprehensive effort to screen new arrivals from abroad. Those who were infected were largely put under complete isolation at home. To ensure compliance, a fine of more than 33 thousand dollars was imposed. There were no mass lockdowns too. The Singapore model has been praised by experts too. So, in no way, China's model institutionalised oppression, erased facts and enabled a cover-up. World leaders should be wary of the coronavirus dictatorship. As the case of China has shown, dictatorial regimes have only made this outbreak worst. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: China's authoritarianism vs democracy and transparency

Lockdown in India, apart from other things, will be defined by the visuals of migrant workers trudging along the national highway to their respective homes. It seemed that planners completely forgot about the crores of migrant and daily wage workers in the city. As the lockdown set in and so did the panic in the poor sections of society.

Imagine, despite the law in place that people would be catered to by civic agencies, Delhi erupted and people chose to walk back to their natal places rather than staying where they were. It was a true reflection of people’s lack of trust in the Indian state. Despite repeated requests by the state government, migrants refused to go back to their respective temporary residences in Delhi. The chaos was evident, and rumours added to the confusion that buses are being made available for them at the border.

Why didn’t the government account for the dislocation remains a mystery? The point to be noted is that despite the inconvenience, the public at large did not become violent. The migrants did not break any law per se. Technically, they were not supposed to move out of their residences but on the way out, even at the toughest moment, there was discipline and nobility in their silent march. There was no destruction of public property.&nbsp;

There was no sloganeering. It was heart-wrenching to see that poor&nbsp;displayed more grace and discipline in such trying times.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi too apologised for the inconvenience but insisted that hardship is required to tackle the outbreak. It is happening for the second time that people have reposed immense trust in the Prime Minister. First, it was demonetisation when the nation was taken by surprise by his decision. This time too, the country was given a notice of 4 hours to prepare for the lockdown. Poor people once again have given leeway to the Prime Minister and it is time that the government must pay back silent marchers by helping them. Many are getting ostracised in their own villages as they are not being allowed to enter.&nbsp;

Many might have got the infection on the way. The government must do everything to restore the dignity of India’s labour&nbsp;by diverting the best and most material resources to them. The long and silent march of the people from the national capital Delhi was a reflection of deep inequality which still exists in cities. We may have built tall buildings and fancy malls but the hands those build them remain empty. I hope and pray that they are taken care of and lockdown does not worsen the condition of India daily wage labourer in the unorganised sector.

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Lockdown in India, apart from other things, will be defined by the visuals of migrant workers trudging along the national highway to their respective homes. It seemed that planners completely forgot about the crores of migrant and daily wage workers in the city.

Lockdown in India, apart from other things, will be defined by the visuals of migrant workers trudging along the national highway to their respective homes. It seemed that planners completely forgot about the crores of migrant and daily wage workers in the city. As the lockdown set in and so did the panic in the poor sections of society. Imagine, despite the law in place that people would be catered to by civic agencies, Delhi erupted and people chose to walk back to their natal places rather than staying where they were. It was a true reflection of people’s lack of trust in the Indian state. Despite repeated requests by the state government, migrants refused to go back to their respective temporary residences in Delhi. The chaos was evident, and rumours added to the confusion that buses are being made available for them at the border. Why didn’t the government account for the dislocation remains a mystery? The point to be noted is that despite the inconvenience, the public at large did not become violent. The migrants did not break any law per se. Technically, they were not supposed to move out of their residences but on the way out, even at the toughest moment, there was discipline and nobility in their silent march. There was no destruction of public property. There was no sloganeering. It was heart-wrenching to see that poor displayed more grace and discipline in such trying times. Prime Minister Narendra Modi too apologised for the inconvenience but insisted that hardship is required to tackle the outbreak. It is happening for the second time that people have reposed immense trust in the Prime Minister. First, it was demonetisation when the nation was taken by surprise by his decision. This time too, the country was given a notice of 4 hours to prepare for the lockdown. Poor people once again have given leeway to the Prime Minister and it is time that the government must pay back silent marchers by helping them. Many are getting ostracised in their own villages as they are not being allowed to enter. Many might have got the infection on the way. The government must do everything to restore the dignity of India’s labour by diverting the best and most material resources to them. The long and silent march of the people from the national capital Delhi was a reflection of deep inequality which still exists in cities. We may have built tall buildings and fancy malls but the hands those build them remain empty. I hope and pray that they are taken care of and lockdown does not worsen the condition of India daily wage labourer in the unorganised sector. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

Week 2 of coronavirus lockdown: Grace under fire

We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming). As we go through this turbulence, I do a deep dive to see the impact on the gaming industry. &nbsp;

Global Gaming is a $149 billion industry, with mobile gaming accounting for 46 per cent of revenues i.e. $68 billion (growing at nearly 9 per cent), expected to achieve $180 billion by 2021. 2.2 billion gamers across the world mean that the business of fun is serious business. &nbsp;

Typically, gaming as a sector is more resilient than other tech sectors in down cycles. In 2008, a Nielsen study revealed that players devoted 1-2 hours of additional gameplay, corresponding with a secular rise in average minutes/month played in 2008 continuing through Q1 2009. When console sales declined, gamers migrated to mobile, web-based or second-hand games. Real annual economic growth among game makers topped 10 per cent between 2005-2009 even as economies contracted.&nbsp;

In times of stress and forced solitude, the immersive and social nature of games can bring people together like no other medium can. Last week, Verizon reported that videogame usage in the US was up 75 per cent in comparison to video streaming which increased by 12 per cent (while overall web traffic was up nearly 20 per cent and social media usage remained largely flat). A week back, Steam hit its all-time concurrent user peak of 20 million users. In China, average weekly downloads of apps/games during the first two weeks of February jumped 40 per cent compared with the average for the whole of 2019. Revenues followed a similar trajectory. Daily usage of games increased by 40 per cent to 159 minutes. Report says Honor of Kings achieved a new record of 150M DAUs; other titles like Peacekeeper Elite achieved 100M DAU’s. Certain genres i.e. card games, board games, female-focused content also did particularly well.&nbsp;

Given that games deliver a higher value to price proposition there is an increasing desire to get more value out of games often at the cost of costlier forms of entertainment. As discretionary expenditure on vacations/dining out/events etc wanes those freed up consumer dollars divert to gaming. However, as the inevitable unemployment events take place, certain demographics of gamers will cut back on playing and spending. The substitution effect above will tend to offset any direct demand destruction. &nbsp;

On the e-sports side, conspicuous lack of sports competitions will drive enthusiasts to virtual sporting events. ESL Pro League reported a 27 per cent year over year increase in online viewership with its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive&nbsp;March 16 event. However, actual e-sports tournaments/ticket sales will take a hit with cancellations.&nbsp;

In India, gaming is witnessing a similar boost. Time spent and mobile game downloads both increased by 20-30 per cent, over a time span of a week across the board for companies like Adda52, WinZO, Games 24*7, Gametion and many others. However, fantasy games will be impacted due to the eventual cancellation of IPL/sports matches and have to experiment with content, resort to daily rewards and other give-aways to retain users. As anxiety, stress, boredom and desire for stimulation all trigger, it will result in an increase in wagering/lottery style real money games. Cost of user acquisition will go down as ad inventory frees but conversely ad-based business models will be impacted as brands pull back. Games streaming and influencers will see a surge in popularity. In a milestone event, two home-grown streamers, CarryMinati and Mortal attracted 200,000 concurrent users on a live stream last week. &nbsp;

On the flip side, global supply chain disruptions will impact console sales/peripherals given that China is a major supplier. Expect wider disruption in manufacturing and sales of smartphones particularly as factory units shut down. Delays in the release of next-generation consoles will adversely impact console studios in the mid-term. AAA updates and new game releases will be pushed back. Live operations for mobile games due to remote working could be a challenge if the current period of lock-down extends further. Cancellation of GDC/E3 events will hurt small indies hoping for product launches. &nbsp;

While an extended period of social distancing could result in lost productivity games companies are far better prepared than other entertainment industries (TV studios/content producers etc) on building products with remote teams. Glu Mobile recently launched Disney Sorcerers Arena in the midst of remote working without disruption. &nbsp;

There is no doubt that Covid-19 will have far-reaching consequences. However, as we seek to soothe frayed nerves, a little escapism, frivolity and seeking alternate realities where you have some control won’t be a bad thing. &nbsp;

(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming).

We are living through unprecedented times. The world as we know has been profoundly altered. Some sectors have been hit hard (hospitality, retail, aviation etc) and some have been indirect beneficiaries (remote working tools, digital media, mobile gaming). As we go through this turbulence, I do a deep dive to see the impact on the gaming industry. Global Gaming is a $149 billion industry, with mobile gaming accounting for 46 per cent of revenues i.e. $68 billion (growing at nearly 9 per cent), expected to achieve $180 billion by 2021. 2.2 billion gamers across the world mean that the business of fun is serious business. Typically, gaming as a sector is more resilient than other tech sectors in down cycles. In 2008, a Nielsen study revealed that players devoted 1-2 hours of additional gameplay, corresponding with a secular rise in average minutes/month played in 2008 continuing through Q1 2009. When console sales declined, gamers migrated to mobile, web-based or second-hand games. Real annual economic growth among game makers topped 10 per cent between 2005-2009 even as economies contracted. In times of stress and forced solitude, the immersive and social nature of games can bring people together like no other medium can. Last week, Verizon reported that videogame usage in the US was up 75 per cent in comparison to video streaming which increased by 12 per cent (while overall web traffic was up nearly 20 per cent and social media usage remained largely flat). A week back, Steam hit its all-time concurrent user peak of 20 million users. In China, average weekly downloads of apps/games during the first two weeks of February jumped 40 per cent compared with the average for the whole of 2019. Revenues followed a similar trajectory. Daily usage of games increased by 40 per cent to 159 minutes. Report says Honor of Kings achieved a new record of 150M DAUs; other titles like Peacekeeper Elite achieved 100M DAU’s. Certain genres i.e. card games, board games, female-focused content also did particularly well. Given that games deliver a higher value to price proposition there is an increasing desire to get more value out of games often at the cost of costlier forms of entertainment. As discretionary expenditure on vacations/dining out/events etc wanes those freed up consumer dollars divert to gaming. However, as the inevitable unemployment events take place, certain demographics of gamers will cut back on playing and spending. The substitution effect above will tend to offset any direct demand destruction. On the e-sports side, conspicuous lack of sports competitions will drive enthusiasts to virtual sporting events. ESL Pro League reported a 27 per cent year over year increase in online viewership with its Counter-Strike: Global Offensive March 16 event. However, actual e-sports tournaments/ticket sales will take a hit with cancellations. In India, gaming is witnessing a similar boost. Time spent and mobile game downloads both increased by 20-30 per cent, over a time span of a week across the board for companies like Adda52, WinZO, Games 24*7, Gametion and many others. However, fantasy games will be impacted due to the eventual cancellation of IPL/sports matches and have to experiment with content, resort to daily rewards and other give-aways to retain users. As anxiety, stress, boredom and desire for stimulation all trigger, it will result in an increase in wagering/lottery style real money games. Cost of user acquisition will go down as ad inventory frees but conversely ad-based business models will be impacted as brands pull back. Games streaming and influencers will see a surge in popularity. In a milestone event, two home-grown streamers, CarryMinati and Mortal attracted 200,000 concurrent users on a live stream last week. On the flip side, global supply chain disruptions will impact console sales/peripherals given that China is a major supplier. Expect wider disruption in manufacturing and sales of smartphones particularly as factory units shut down. Delays in the release of next-generation consoles will adversely impact console studios in the mid-term. AAA updates and new game releases will be pushed back. Live operations for mobile games due to remote working could be a challenge if the current period of lock-down extends further. Cancellation of GDC/E3 events will hurt small indies hoping for product launches. While an extended period of social distancing could result in lost productivity games companies are far better prepared than other entertainment industries (TV studios/content producers etc) on building products with remote teams. Glu Mobile recently launched Disney Sorcerers Arena in the midst of remote working without disruption. There is no doubt that Covid-19 will have far-reaching consequences. However, as we seek to soothe frayed nerves, a little escapism, frivolity and seeking alternate realities where you have some control won’t be a bad thing. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

How coronavirus outbreak is impacting the gaming industry

The world that was divided along the fault-lines of social, religious, economic, historical, geographical or ideological supremacy, is now speaking in one voice on the need to save humanity.

Around one-third of the world population is estimated to be under lockdown as humanity comes to terms with the pandemic <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/refugees-could-become-the-worst-victims-of-coronavirus-pandemic-288393">Covid-19 </a>after initial denial.

With over seven&nbsp;lakh cases globally, people are restricted to their homes. The streets bear a deserted look, and the world has come to a standstill. Yet the world is in flux.

The crises of seclusion, isolation and social distancing is not only changing our perception for life, but has also forced us to ponder over the existing way of life itself.&nbsp;

Mystery Surrounding the Deadly Virus

Besides the worldwide criticism of WHO in the handling of the Covid-19 crises, the virus itself has been referred to as the ‘Chinese Virus’ and it is widely believed that this virus originated in Wuhan, China.&nbsp;

In addition to this, there are also inputs on how this virus was predicted by a writer in her book written in the early 1980s. Daily, we keep on hearing new theories and information rendering the situation ambiguous. 
&nbsp; 
Global Politics

With many world leaders and personalities testing positive, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/opinions-blogs/coronavirus-outbreak-lockdown-and-beyond-a-looming-crisis-288430">the Coronavirus</a>, being christened as the ‘Chinese virus’ by world leaders like Donald Trump, is shaking up the global politics. It is set to change and possibly weaken the role of China in the modern world. 
 
The US response has enraged many and China has gone on a propaganda offensive. One set of information says, in the year 2019, there were about 40 lakh Chinese tourists in Italy and these are said to have played a role in the propagation of the virus on such a large scale. There seems to have set in, a certain incredibility being attributed to China’s role in the genesis and spread of this virus, thus throwing up questions on China’s aspirations to be known as a world leader. Though we do not have much information on the source and genesis of this virus, what is very evident at this point of time, is that the whole world is in the grip of fear psychosis, and it is hell-bent on stopping this virus in its path of destruction and fury.&nbsp;

The Other Side

What is unique about this predicament, is that never before in modern history, have governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals across the world, prioritised an issue and pledged their complete support to each other to see its resolution. The world before COVID-19 was immensely competitive, with countries competing with each other to establish their supremacy in world history and politics. From being the first to set up an asylum for humans on Mars, to spreading their ideology across the world, the priorities were always cantered on competition as opposed to the stress on cooperation in this post-COVID-19 world. The world that was divided along the fault-lines of social, religious, economic, historical, geographical or ideological supremacy, is now speaking in one voice on the need to save humanity.

Obsolete Vs Relevant 
 
Another post-COVID 19 scenario that we are witnessing, is the increasing obsolescence and growing irrelevance of global organisations like the UN, which was established solely to eradicate poverty and war from the world.&nbsp;

Other than giving out statements on the progress of the virus across the world and updating the casualties and results, not much has been under the control of the UN or the WHO, in terms of battling and mitigating this pandemic. It seems WHO took too long to act and gave China a long pass. Both organisations need recasting. In fact, much more has been done by individual governments and the civil society, notably by the Indian government which has been taking strong positive and assertive steps to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and keep it in check. In fact, the WHO, lauding India’s past missives against small-pox and polio, has stressed upon the country’s fight against the virus as the crucial part of the battle.

Can India Show the Way?

For ages together, India has been propagating the idea of 'One-world family' or 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', and which was not really comprehended in its truest sense, by the western world. This pandemic has not only taught the essence of 'one-world family' to the entire world but also demonstrated its practical implementation for all to appreciate. All man-made divisions have been thrown out of the window by an unseen and unknown virus, reasserting the superiority of Nature, and its ability to blow all our plans to smithereens.&nbsp;

Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first leaders to establish a fund for the battle against the COVID-19, in coordination with its neighbouring countries. While other countries were busy battling the virus in their individual capacities, the head of the world’s largest democracy was reaching out to other nations to help them in this war against the pandemic. This has assertively pushed India into the league of a global leader, despite its conspicuous absence from the UN Security Council, not just politically but also culturally, as is evident from the endorsement of the Indian way of greeting, the Namaste, as being the safest way to greet in the present scenario.

The Indian Way of Life!

The way Italy’s health care system is groaning under Covid-19, it is a warning to the world. The west today values ancient Indian wisdom and its ayurvedic home remedies for an enhanced immune system,

Studies have shown that people with a stronger immune system have a higher chance of being cured of this virus. This explains the estimated whopping 300 per cent increase in the export of turmeric to Europeans who are looking for Indian spices to increase their immunity. Giloy, an ayurvedic herb, known to cure fever and flu in a matter of days, works wonders in the prevention of the Coronavirus. It is widely consumed in India for the treatment of viral cold and cough, and fever, and is known as the root of immortality, since it enhances the immune system like no other medication, in addition to its utility in the treatment of diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders.

Copper and Brass have been an inseparable part of the Indian civilisation, and were, perhaps, the only materials to be used as utensils in India. The practice of drinking water from brass is inherent to all Indians, that we have forgotten the same, is another matter.

Meanwhile, it is believed that virus strains degenerate when brought in contact with copper surfaces and cannot survive on it, unlike other surfaces where it can survive for days together. Bill Keevil, Professor of Environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, says that viruses land on copper and it just degrades them.&nbsp;

And finally, the practice of Namaste, being incorporated as the norm in the Coronavirus –infested atmosphere, shows the relevance of the practice of avoiding physical contact, which, according to Indian tradition implies the accumulation of memories by physical contact, something which was to be avoided at all costs.&nbsp;

The Final War&nbsp;

This current pandemic should cause us to revisit our civilizational values and rethink our plan of development. Information technology and mass urbanisation must be guided by higher consciousness to nature and the earth, because, without the right foundation, no civilisation can endure.

Given its contribution to the war against the COVID-19, India is bound to be catapulted to the role of a global leader, also on account of its dauntless war against the pandemic, devoid of fear psychosis, and armed with fearless and practical solutions of lockdown and precautionary measures implemented by the government and executed to perfection by its dedicated medical, surveillance and security personnel, and the citizenry, as opposed to the ground realities in places like China or Italy or even the US, where the virus has wreaked havoc beyond one’s imagination.&nbsp;

The world, in the wake of this disease, is turning to spirituality, which by my definition, means questioning one’s origin, one’s relation with Nature and fellow human beings, one’s longevity and one’s legacy for the future generation. All of a sudden, we have been introspecting into the kind of world we are going to bequeath to our children, questioning the way of life we have been leading.

Another example of this is the inadvertent focus on family life and family bonding as advocated in the Indian culture, during the long durations of forced isolation during the lockdown. Though the Western world had,&nbsp; 
all along, smirked at the emotional family orientation of the Indians, and were proud of their capitalist culture of independence, this lockdown has unveiled to them the joy of family bonding and its importance in the larger scheme of things. They are realising that the frantic race for economic sustenance had never been capable of giving them the psychological security and reassurance that the family, in these difficult times, has brought to them.&nbsp;

This Pandemic has further highlighted the fact that the excessively exalted notion of independence of individuals has fallen apart in favour of stress on interdependence, without which people cannot survive in this Post- COVID 19 world. In countries with a high per capita income and independence also, people have realised that one’s survival is dependent on others. Money may not save your life but someone’s help may.&nbsp;

Also, even if one person chooses to throw caution to the wind, hundreds of others are affected. Hence, this virus has made us realise that no man is an island and that the world is an archipelago.&nbsp;

Crumbling Fault-lines

This brings me to the next observation that the faultlines of religion, region, language, race, nationality, ideology and culture, which had barricaded the world into small units, have finally begun to give away, with the greater identity of humanism overshadowing all other identities. This bringing together of the world on the basis of a common human identity and experience by this virus, in a way that even the UN was not able to do in all these years, augurs well for the coming future. This experience has fostered a culture of sharing and caring beyond an established identity, novel to the western world, enabling us to think uniformly of mitigating poverty, starvation, sickness and war.&nbsp;

The Last Lesson

Richard Louv, in his 1995 book, ‘The last child in the woods,’ strives to tell us how exposure to Nature is essential to childhood development, and the emotional and physical health of children and adults and how we have gone so far away from nature in our thought and habit, that we have started to consume anything and everything, disregarding the thought of when, and what to eat. He talks of Nature- deficit disorder which is the cause of this degradation in our culture and behaviour where we have not spared even a creature from our gluttony. This is where India has a role to play. Maria Wirth talks of how India may need to send a yogi like Bodhidharma to China and teach them what to eat and what not to eat. There have also been talks of how no deadly viruses have emanated from Indian vegetarian foods. &nbsp; 
 
While Indian civilisation has been mocked for the longest time, for the world to now acknowledge it as the most scientific, and beneficial one, is a validation of the age-old practices of this dharmic land. The Indian civilisation has been one, which has its fundamentals deeply rooted in science, medicine and something that modern civilisations lacked- common sense, all along misconstrued as superstition. The world&nbsp;is actively switching to a healthier, and the more sensitive, Indian way of life, absorbing everything from turmeric latte to Sanskrit to yoga. To summarise, India seems to be the last child in the woods, we need to protect and promote it. For a better world, for a better future. 
 
(Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL) 
&nbsp;

The world that was divided along the fault-lines of social, religious, economic, historical, geographical or ideological supremacy, is now speaking in one voice on the need to save humanity.

The world that was divided along the fault-lines of social, religious, economic, historical, geographical or ideological supremacy, is now speaking in one voice on the need to save humanity. Around one-third of the world population is estimated to be under lockdown as humanity comes to terms with the pandemic Covid-19 after initial denial. With over seven lakh cases globally, people are restricted to their homes. The streets bear a deserted look, and the world has come to a standstill. Yet the world is in flux. The crises of seclusion, isolation and social distancing is not only changing our perception for life, but has also forced us to ponder over the existing way of life itself. Mystery Surrounding the Deadly Virus Besides the worldwide criticism of WHO in the handling of the Covid-19 crises, the virus itself has been referred to as the ‘Chinese Virus’ and it is widely believed that this virus originated in Wuhan, China. In addition to this, there are also inputs on how this virus was predicted by a writer in her book written in the early 1980s. Daily, we keep on hearing new theories and information rendering the situation ambiguous. Global Politics With many world leaders and personalities testing positive, the Coronavirus, being christened as the ‘Chinese virus’ by world leaders like Donald Trump, is shaking up the global politics. It is set to change and possibly weaken the role of China in the modern world. The US response has enraged many and China has gone on a propaganda offensive. One set of information says, in the year 2019, there were about 40 lakh Chinese tourists in Italy and these are said to have played a role in the propagation of the virus on such a large scale. There seems to have set in, a certain incredibility being attributed to China’s role in the genesis and spread of this virus, thus throwing up questions on China’s aspirations to be known as a world leader. Though we do not have much information on the source and genesis of this virus, what is very evident at this point of time, is that the whole world is in the grip of fear psychosis, and it is hell-bent on stopping this virus in its path of destruction and fury. The Other Side What is unique about this predicament, is that never before in modern history, have governmental and non-governmental organisations and individuals across the world, prioritised an issue and pledged their complete support to each other to see its resolution. The world before COVID-19 was immensely competitive, with countries competing with each other to establish their supremacy in world history and politics. From being the first to set up an asylum for humans on Mars, to spreading their ideology across the world, the priorities were always cantered on competition as opposed to the stress on cooperation in this post-COVID-19 world. The world that was divided along the fault-lines of social, religious, economic, historical, geographical or ideological supremacy, is now speaking in one voice on the need to save humanity. Obsolete Vs Relevant Another post-COVID 19 scenario that we are witnessing, is the increasing obsolescence and growing irrelevance of global organisations like the UN, which was established solely to eradicate poverty and war from the world. Other than giving out statements on the progress of the virus across the world and updating the casualties and results, not much has been under the control of the UN or the WHO, in terms of battling and mitigating this pandemic. It seems WHO took too long to act and gave China a long pass. Both organisations need recasting. In fact, much more has been done by individual governments and the civil society, notably by the Indian government which has been taking strong positive and assertive steps to contain the spread of the Coronavirus and keep it in check. In fact, the WHO, lauding India’s past missives against small-pox and polio, has stressed upon the country’s fight against the virus as the crucial part of the battle. Can India Show the Way? For ages together, India has been propagating the idea of 'One-world family' or 'Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam', and which was not really comprehended in its truest sense, by the western world. This pandemic has not only taught the essence of 'one-world family' to the entire world but also demonstrated its practical implementation for all to appreciate. All man-made divisions have been thrown out of the window by an unseen and unknown virus, reasserting the superiority of Nature, and its ability to blow all our plans to smithereens. Additionally, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was one of the first leaders to establish a fund for the battle against the COVID-19, in coordination with its neighbouring countries. While other countries were busy battling the virus in their individual capacities, the head of the world’s largest democracy was reaching out to other nations to help them in this war against the pandemic. This has assertively pushed India into the league of a global leader, despite its conspicuous absence from the UN Security Council, not just politically but also culturally, as is evident from the endorsement of the Indian way of greeting, the Namaste, as being the safest way to greet in the present scenario. The Indian Way of Life! The way Italy’s health care system is groaning under Covid-19, it is a warning to the world. The west today values ancient Indian wisdom and its ayurvedic home remedies for an enhanced immune system, Studies have shown that people with a stronger immune system have a higher chance of being cured of this virus. This explains the estimated whopping 300 per cent increase in the export of turmeric to Europeans who are looking for Indian spices to increase their immunity. Giloy, an ayurvedic herb, known to cure fever and flu in a matter of days, works wonders in the prevention of the Coronavirus. It is widely consumed in India for the treatment of viral cold and cough, and fever, and is known as the root of immortality, since it enhances the immune system like no other medication, in addition to its utility in the treatment of diabetes and gastrointestinal disorders. Copper and Brass have been an inseparable part of the Indian civilisation, and were, perhaps, the only materials to be used as utensils in India. The practice of drinking water from brass is inherent to all Indians, that we have forgotten the same, is another matter. Meanwhile, it is believed that virus strains degenerate when brought in contact with copper surfaces and cannot survive on it, unlike other surfaces where it can survive for days together. Bill Keevil, Professor of Environmental healthcare at the University of Southampton, says that viruses land on copper and it just degrades them. And finally, the practice of Namaste, being incorporated as the norm in the Coronavirus –infested atmosphere, shows the relevance of the practice of avoiding physical contact, which, according to Indian tradition implies the accumulation of memories by physical contact, something which was to be avoided at all costs. The Final War This current pandemic should cause us to revisit our civilizational values and rethink our plan of development. Information technology and mass urbanisation must be guided by higher consciousness to nature and the earth, because, without the right foundation, no civilisation can endure. Given its contribution to the war against the COVID-19, India is bound to be catapulted to the role of a global leader, also on account of its dauntless war against the pandemic, devoid of fear psychosis, and armed with fearless and practical solutions of lockdown and precautionary measures implemented by the government and executed to perfection by its dedicated medical, surveillance and security personnel, and the citizenry, as opposed to the ground realities in places like China or Italy or even the US, where the virus has wreaked havoc beyond one’s imagination. The world, in the wake of this disease, is turning to spirituality, which by my definition, means questioning one’s origin, one’s relation with Nature and fellow human beings, one’s longevity and one’s legacy for the future generation. All of a sudden, we have been introspecting into the kind of world we are going to bequeath to our children, questioning the way of life we have been leading. Another example of this is the inadvertent focus on family life and family bonding as advocated in the Indian culture, during the long durations of forced isolation during the lockdown. Though the Western world had, all along, smirked at the emotional family orientation of the Indians, and were proud of their capitalist culture of independence, this lockdown has unveiled to them the joy of family bonding and its importance in the larger scheme of things. They are realising that the frantic race for economic sustenance had never been capable of giving them the psychological security and reassurance that the family, in these difficult times, has brought to them. This Pandemic has further highlighted the fact that the excessively exalted notion of independence of individuals has fallen apart in favour of stress on interdependence, without which people cannot survive in this Post- COVID 19 world. In countries with a high per capita income and independence also, people have realised that one’s survival is dependent on others. Money may not save your life but someone’s help may. Also, even if one person chooses to throw caution to the wind, hundreds of others are affected. Hence, this virus has made us realise that no man is an island and that the world is an archipelago. Crumbling Fault-lines This brings me to the next observation that the faultlines of religion, region, language, race, nationality, ideology and culture, which had barricaded the world into small units, have finally begun to give away, with the greater identity of humanism overshadowing all other identities. This bringing together of the world on the basis of a common human identity and experience by this virus, in a way that even the UN was not able to do in all these years, augurs well for the coming future. This experience has fostered a culture of sharing and caring beyond an established identity, novel to the western world, enabling us to think uniformly of mitigating poverty, starvation, sickness and war. The Last Lesson Richard Louv, in his 1995 book, ‘The last child in the woods,’ strives to tell us how exposure to Nature is essential to childhood development, and the emotional and physical health of children and adults and how we have gone so far away from nature in our thought and habit, that we have started to consume anything and everything, disregarding the thought of when, and what to eat. He talks of Nature- deficit disorder which is the cause of this degradation in our culture and behaviour where we have not spared even a creature from our gluttony. This is where India has a role to play. Maria Wirth talks of how India may need to send a yogi like Bodhidharma to China and teach them what to eat and what not to eat. There have also been talks of how no deadly viruses have emanated from Indian vegetarian foods. While Indian civilisation has been mocked for the longest time, for the world to now acknowledge it as the most scientific, and beneficial one, is a validation of the age-old practices of this dharmic land. The Indian civilisation has been one, which has its fundamentals deeply rooted in science, medicine and something that modern civilisations lacked- common sense, all along misconstrued as superstition. The world is actively switching to a healthier, and the more sensitive, Indian way of life, absorbing everything from turmeric latte to Sanskrit to yoga. To summarise, India seems to be the last child in the woods, we need to protect and promote it. For a better world, for a better future. (Disclaimer: The opinions expressed above are the personal views of the author and do not reflect the views of ZMCL)

India has played a vital role in the fight against coronavirus

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have urged the public to 'look after' their mental health amid the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The couple, through their official Twitter handle on Sunday, sent out a word of advice about the importance of mental well being in these trying times. 
 
"The last few weeks have been anxious and unsettling for everyone," the statement noted. "We have to take time to support each other and find ways to look after our mental health," the couple stated on their official Twitter page of Kensington Palace.

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
The last few weeks have been anxious and unsettling for everyone. We have to take time to support each other and find ways to look after our mental health. 
 
By taking simple steps each day we can all be better prepared for the times ahead.<a href="https://t.co/7WNdKBbFyT">https://t.co/7WNdKBbFyT</a>
— Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) <a href="https://twitter.com/KensingtonRoyal/status/1244178937133105158?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 29, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

"By taking simple steps each day we can all be better prepared for the times ahead," the tweet further added. 
The tweet was attached with a link to the UK government's tips for slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. 
 
The tweet comes days after William's father, P<a href="https://www.wionews.com/entertainment/prince-charles-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-288441">rince Charles tested positive for coronavirus. </a>

This is also the first time that a state leader has spoken openly about the importance of mental health while addressing the people of his country. William is second in line to the throne and amid the coronavirus outbreak, it is believed that the Prince has been briefed to officially take charge as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles have been moved out of London and are now in quarantine.

In UK, the PM of the country, <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-health-secretary-also-infected-288947">Boris Johnson </a>and his health minister have both tested positive for coronavirus just a few days back.

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have urged the public to 'look after' their mental health amid the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The couple, through their official Twitter handle on Sunday, sent out a word of advice about the importance of mental well being in these trying times.

Prince William and his wife Kate Middleton have urged the public to 'look after' their mental health amid the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. The couple, through their official Twitter handle on Sunday, sent out a word of advice about the importance of mental well being in these trying times. "The last few weeks have been anxious and unsettling for everyone," the statement noted. "We have to take time to support each other and find ways to look after our mental health," the couple stated on their official Twitter page of Kensington Palace. The last few weeks have been anxious and unsettling for everyone. We have to take time to support each other and find ways to look after our mental health. By taking simple steps each day we can all be better prepared for the times ahead.https://t.co/7WNdKBbFyT — Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) March 29, 2020 × "By taking simple steps each day we can all be better prepared for the times ahead," the tweet further added. The tweet was attached with a link to the UK government's tips for slowing the spread of the novel coronavirus. The tweet comes days after William's father, Prince Charles tested positive for coronavirus. This is also the first time that a state leader has spoken openly about the importance of mental health while addressing the people of his country. William is second in line to the throne and amid the coronavirus outbreak, it is believed that the Prince has been briefed to officially take charge as his grandmother, Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Charles have been moved out of London and are now in quarantine. In UK, the PM of the country, Boris Johnson and his health minister have both tested positive for coronavirus just a few days back.

Prince William, Kate Middleton urge fans to 'look after' mental health amid coronavirus outbreak

When the world is faced with a crisis, leaders come together at different platforms where leaders find solutions and pin responsibility.

However, none of it is happening now.&nbsp;The wrong sides are being allowed to say the right things.

China, the exporter of a global crisis, was given a platform to expound on what the world should be doing.

It's indeed disappointing that the world's most powerful leaders failed to hold China accountable at the G20 Summit.

US President Donald Trump made the most unfortunate u-turn. This is the same man who insisted on calling it the Chinese virus, but the US President has now struck a conciliatory tone with China. He also made a late-night call to Chinese President Xi Jinping.

According to Trump now, China has developed a strong understanding of the virus.

China's financial might is holding hostage the world's political will. The G20 was an opportunity to hold the Chinese regime accountable. However, G20 member nations did not even dare to politely suggest that China must change its policies to so that deadly viruses do not spread like this.

The world will have to pay a price for not being tough on China. 3.3 million Americans have already filed claims for unemployment. 
&nbsp; 
Economists fear that the unemployment rate in America could reach 13 per cent in about a month from now.

In Germany, 3 million people could be out of work if this crisis is allowed to get more severe. In India, migrant labourers are walking hundreds of miles to return to their villages. This could soon explode into a bigger crisis.

The G20 member-nations should look at these figures, after all, they represent 85 per cent of global GDP. The Wuhan coronavirus crisis is inherently political, it is a failure of China.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world) 
&nbsp;

When the world is faced with a crisis, leaders come together at different platforms where leaders find solutions and pin responsibility. However, none of it is happening now.

When the world is faced with a crisis, leaders come together at different platforms where leaders find solutions and pin responsibility. However, none of it is happening now. The wrong sides are being allowed to say the right things. China, the exporter of a global crisis, was given a platform to expound on what the world should be doing. It's indeed disappointing that the world's most powerful leaders failed to hold China accountable at the G20 Summit. US President Donald Trump made the most unfortunate u-turn. This is the same man who insisted on calling it the Chinese virus, but the US President has now struck a conciliatory tone with China. He also made a late-night call to Chinese President Xi Jinping. According to Trump now, China has developed a strong understanding of the virus. China's financial might is holding hostage the world's political will. The G20 was an opportunity to hold the Chinese regime accountable. However, G20 member nations did not even dare to politely suggest that China must change its policies to so that deadly viruses do not spread like this. The world will have to pay a price for not being tough on China. 3.3 million Americans have already filed claims for unemployment. Economists fear that the unemployment rate in America could reach 13 per cent in about a month from now. In Germany, 3 million people could be out of work if this crisis is allowed to get more severe. In India, migrant labourers are walking hundreds of miles to return to their villages. This could soon explode into a bigger crisis. The G20 member-nations should look at these figures, after all, they represent 85 per cent of global GDP. The Wuhan coronavirus crisis is inherently political, it is a failure of China. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: G20 Meet - a missed opportunity?

The confirmed cases of <a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/rapid-coronavirus-spread-pushes-cases-past-half-a-million-288986">coronavirus</a> have crossed five lakhs, the world's biggest cities are shut and stock markets are in free fall.

The Wuhan virus has triggered an unprecedented crisis in human history. One virus has disrupted the world and this leads us to a question: Is the Wuhan virus the world's biggest intelligence failure? Did no one see it coming?

By the time the world swung into action, the virus had already crossed most borders. There is one country that seems to have an edge right now, the home country of the coronavirus - China.

There is no doubt that China was hit for weeks, but now, Beijing says it has contained the threat. It is closing down borders and opening up businesses. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/clap-for-carers-after-india-britain-lauds-its-health-workers-battling-coronavirus-288932">Also read: 'Clap for carers': After India, Britain lauds its health workers battling coronavirus</a>

Fewer cases are being reported and factories are up and running again. Businesses will take time to revive, but they've made a start.

Companies are being encouraged to make coronavirus supplies. They are making equipment other countries might need to fight the outbreak. Big business and the government now stand to gain.

Interestingly, a book - 'Unrestricted Warfare: China's master plan to destroy America', written in 1999, says that China cannot defeat America in a direct military confrontation, but it can leverage its economic prowess to leave the Americans behind.&nbsp;The book offers clues into the Chinese mindset. 
 
<a href="https://www.wionews.com/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-tests-positive-for-coronavirus-health-secretary-also-infected-288947">Also read:&nbsp;UK PM Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus</a>

This book's assessment has some eerie similarities with the present situation which is being quoted by conspiracy theorists. They claim that amid this coronavirus crisis, Beijing is executing its world domination plan.

Major countries are still struggling, but China already has a headstart. The Chinese government is going the extra mile to make sure businesses resume operations.&nbsp; 
&nbsp; 
While the world tries to heal, China is already up and running.

The confirmed cases of coronavirus have crossed five lakhs, the world's biggest cities are shut and stock markets are in free fall. The Wuhan virus has triggered an unprecedented crisis in human history.

The confirmed cases of coronavirus have crossed five lakhs, the world's biggest cities are shut and stock markets are in free fall. The Wuhan virus has triggered an unprecedented crisis in human history. One virus has disrupted the world and this leads us to a question: Is the Wuhan virus the world's biggest intelligence failure? Did no one see it coming? By the time the world swung into action, the virus had already crossed most borders. There is one country that seems to have an edge right now, the home country of the coronavirus - China. There is no doubt that China was hit for weeks, but now, Beijing says it has contained the threat. It is closing down borders and opening up businesses. Also read: 'Clap for carers': After India, Britain lauds its health workers battling coronavirus Fewer cases are being reported and factories are up and running again. Businesses will take time to revive, but they've made a start. Companies are being encouraged to make coronavirus supplies. They are making equipment other countries might need to fight the outbreak. Big business and the government now stand to gain. Interestingly, a book - 'Unrestricted Warfare: China's master plan to destroy America', written in 1999, says that China cannot defeat America in a direct military confrontation, but it can leverage its economic prowess to leave the Americans behind. The book offers clues into the Chinese mindset. Also read: UK PM Boris Johnson tests positive for coronavirus This book's assessment has some eerie similarities with the present situation which is being quoted by conspiracy theorists. They claim that amid this coronavirus crisis, Beijing is executing its world domination plan. Major countries are still struggling, but China already has a headstart. The Chinese government is going the extra mile to make sure businesses resume operations. While the world tries to heal, China is already up and running.

Is coronavirus outbreak the world’s biggest intelligence failure?

By Allen Cheng

According to Google Trends, the top globally trending topic this week is “orthohantavirus”, as spurious sites claim it’s the next pandemic on the horizon.

Take it from me: it’s not.

This baseless claim circulating online underscores the need to get health information from reputable sources – and that you shouldn’t believe everything you read on social media.

What is orthohantavirus? 
 
“Orthohantavirus” - commonly known as hantavirus – is a very, very rare virus. There have never been confirmed human cases in Australia. The last two reported confirmed cases worldwide were in January in Bolivia and Argentina.

It is, in a class of diseases, called zoonoses, meaning it is a virus transmitted from animals to human. In this case, the animal in question is rodents (usually rats). Hantaviruses can cause severe disease, including bleeding and kidney failure.

How does hantavirus spread? 
 
According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantavirus is spread from several species of rodents in their urine, droppings, and saliva. It is thought that transmission occurs when they breathe in air contaminated with the virus.

CDC also reports: 
1. if a rodent with the virus bites someone, the virus may be spread to that person, but this type of transmission is rare; 
2. scientists believe that people may be able to get the virus if they touch something that has been contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and then touch their nose or mouth; 
3.scientists also suspect people can become sick if they eat food contaminated by urine, droppings, or saliva from an infected rodent.

How worried should I be about hantavirus? 
 
Not very. In general, infectious disease specialists do worry about zoonoses – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and Ebola are both important recent examples of animal-associated diseases that have crossed the species barrier.

Hantavirus, however, is not thought to be a big threat at the moment.

There’s certainly no chatter among infectious disease physicians about hantavirus right now. I’m not seeing anything concerning about it on any of my researcher networks and mailing lists that warn about virus outbreaks.

There was a recent report of a single case in China but there’s no indication of any sort of spread.

I think, for now, let’s concentrate on the pandemic we have – which is a coronavirus and also the annual influenza season – rather than worry about uncommon viruses.

However, this coronavirus outbreak and everything that’s come before reinforces that we need early warning systems to work out what’s out there that could be threatening.

Yes, it is true that animals carry a lot of viruses but very few come across to humans.

Hantavirus is certainly not one we are particularly concerned about right now.

(Allen Cheng is Professor in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Monash University) 
 
(This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-orthohantavirus-the-virus-many-are-googling-but-you-really-dont-need-to-worry-about-134901">original article</a>) 
&nbsp;

By Allen Cheng According to Google Trends, the top globally trending topic this week is “orthohantavirus”, as spurious sites claim it’s the next pandemic on the horizon.

By Allen Cheng According to Google Trends, the top globally trending topic this week is “orthohantavirus”, as spurious sites claim it’s the next pandemic on the horizon. Take it from me: it’s not. This baseless claim circulating online underscores the need to get health information from reputable sources – and that you shouldn’t believe everything you read on social media. What is orthohantavirus? “Orthohantavirus” - commonly known as hantavirus – is a very, very rare virus. There have never been confirmed human cases in Australia. The last two reported confirmed cases worldwide were in January in Bolivia and Argentina. It is, in a class of diseases, called zoonoses, meaning it is a virus transmitted from animals to human. In this case, the animal in question is rodents (usually rats). Hantaviruses can cause severe disease, including bleeding and kidney failure. How does hantavirus spread? According to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), hantavirus is spread from several species of rodents in their urine, droppings, and saliva. It is thought that transmission occurs when they breathe in air contaminated with the virus. CDC also reports: 1. if a rodent with the virus bites someone, the virus may be spread to that person, but this type of transmission is rare; 2. scientists believe that people may be able to get the virus if they touch something that has been contaminated with rodent urine, droppings, or saliva, and then touch their nose or mouth; 3.scientists also suspect people can become sick if they eat food contaminated by urine, droppings, or saliva from an infected rodent. How worried should I be about hantavirus? Not very. In general, infectious disease specialists do worry about zoonoses – the coronavirus that causes COVID-19 and Ebola are both important recent examples of animal-associated diseases that have crossed the species barrier. Hantavirus, however, is not thought to be a big threat at the moment. There’s certainly no chatter among infectious disease physicians about hantavirus right now. I’m not seeing anything concerning about it on any of my researcher networks and mailing lists that warn about virus outbreaks. There was a recent report of a single case in China but there’s no indication of any sort of spread. I think, for now, let’s concentrate on the pandemic we have – which is a coronavirus and also the annual influenza season – rather than worry about uncommon viruses. However, this coronavirus outbreak and everything that’s come before reinforces that we need early warning systems to work out what’s out there that could be threatening. Yes, it is true that animals carry a lot of viruses but very few come across to humans. Hantavirus is certainly not one we are particularly concerned about right now. (Allen Cheng is Professor in Infectious Diseases Epidemiology, Monash University) (This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article)

What is orthohantavirus? All you need to know about the virus

Coronavirus pandemic needs a united response, the collective might of the world's largest economies.

World leaders need to summon the spirit of international cooperation and in the process, they need to seek accountability about why their citizens are in such dire straits today. The G20 held a two-hour-long emergency Summit. There was no jostling to be in the front row for a group photograph this time.

This one was different, it was a closed-door virtual meeting. The leaders met online to find solutions for the coronavirus crisis. 
 
WATCH:

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<div class="videoWrapper trancodeVideo"><iframe allowfullscreen="" autoplay="1" class="includeVideo" frameborder="0" height="350" src="https://www.wionews.com/videos/wion-edit-coronavirus-g20-summit-fails-to-fix-accountability-288770/embed" style="width:100%;max-width:560px;" width="560"></iframe></div>
</div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

Also present at the Summit were&nbsp;the World Health Organisation and UN representatives. The agenda in the words of the G20 chair for this year, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, was for its members to carry out responsibilities as leaders of the world's largest economies.

None of the G20 member nations sought accountability for the damage done. There was no discussion on how one of them neglected necessary measures to control the outbreak. No mention of how the wrongful conduct of the WHO delayed global response.&nbsp;

And no mention of how China has now got down to blaming the very victims of this virus.&nbsp;

In fact, China, in tandem with the WHO, was allowed to preach the heads of states on what they ought to do. President Xi Jinping was provided an easy platform to play the good samaritan and read sermons about removing barriers.

Speaking at the summit, Xi Jinping urged fellow members nations to facilitate trade and cut tariffs, saying China is ready to step-up import and increase foreign investment.

A joint statement was issued after the G20 Summit,&nbsp;and neither China nor the WHO was held accountable.&nbsp;

It's been three months and the health body has only mirrored Chinese propaganda, it's always been a step behind. Beijing is holding the WHO hostage. The coronavirus is still a continuing challenge.

(Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

Coronavirus pandemic needs a united response, the collective might of the world's largest economies. World leaders need to summon the spirit of international cooperation and in the process, they need to seek accountability about why their citizens are in such dire straits today.

Coronavirus pandemic needs a united response, the collective might of the world's largest economies. World leaders need to summon the spirit of international cooperation and in the process, they need to seek accountability about why their citizens are in such dire straits today. The G20 held a two-hour-long emergency Summit. There was no jostling to be in the front row for a group photograph this time. This one was different, it was a closed-door virtual meeting. The leaders met online to find solutions for the coronavirus crisis. WATCH: × Also present at the Summit were the World Health Organisation and UN representatives. The agenda in the words of the G20 chair for this year, King Salman of Saudi Arabia, was for its members to carry out responsibilities as leaders of the world's largest economies. None of the G20 member nations sought accountability for the damage done. There was no discussion on how one of them neglected necessary measures to control the outbreak. No mention of how the wrongful conduct of the WHO delayed global response. And no mention of how China has now got down to blaming the very victims of this virus. In fact, China, in tandem with the WHO, was allowed to preach the heads of states on what they ought to do. President Xi Jinping was provided an easy platform to play the good samaritan and read sermons about removing barriers. Speaking at the summit, Xi Jinping urged fellow members nations to facilitate trade and cut tariffs, saying China is ready to step-up import and increase foreign investment. A joint statement was issued after the G20 Summit, and neither China nor the WHO was held accountable. It's been three months and the health body has only mirrored Chinese propaganda, it's always been a step behind. Beijing is holding the WHO hostage. The coronavirus is still a continuing challenge. (Disclaimer: WION Edit is the channel's take on the big events of the world)

WION Edit: Coronavirus outbreak - G20 Summit failed to fix accountability

Italy has seen a spike in coronavirus cases in the past few days. The entire country is on lockdown. Hospitals are overcrowded, all stores have been asked to shut down except for supermarkets and pharmacies and travelling is only allowed if the Police permits. The country is facing its biggest crisis in history and its people now want the world to know that it could have been prevented.&nbsp;

A collective of artists in Milan called 'A THING BY' posted a video to their YouTube channel featuring Italians speaking to their past selves about the coronavirus, and what they wish they'd known 10 days ago. 
 
Olmo Parenti, a filmmaker and a member of the collective stated that since everyone was stuck at home, the idea could be easily implemented from home.&nbsp;

<a href="https://www.wionews.com/photos/italy-a-glance-at-countrys-unprecedented-coronavirus-lockdown-286511">Italy: A glance at country's unprecedented coronavirus lockdown</a> 
 
In the video, people from different age groups can be seen addressing themselves and giving their future self a word of caution on the disease. Many of the people who appear in the video say they wish they had taken early directives to stay inside and practice social distancing more seriously.

'It's just a flu ... wait, maybe it's bad ... well, I don't know ...' We took it lightly," a woman in the video says. 
 
"We've seen worrisome videos from France and the US of people not taking this seriously," a man says. "The issue is more serious than most of the world believes." 
 
The video got over 3 million views (and counting) on YouTube. 
 
You can watch the video here:&nbsp;

<iframe allow="accelerometer; autoplay; encrypted-media; gyroscope; picture-in-picture" allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/o_cImRzKXOs" width="560"></iframe> 
 
Not just through videos but the country is issuing warnings to the world through various social media platforms and how that the country has slowly been crippled due to the virus and that the world needs to learn from Italy and take adequate precaution.&nbsp;

<div class="ui-state-default" contenteditable="false">
<div class="twitter-block" draggable="false">
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet">
If you'e still hanging with friends, going to restaurants/bars, and acting like this isn't a big deal, get your shit together. 
 
The following thread is taken from an Italian citizen. 
 
As they put it: 
 
"To the rest of the world, you have no idea what's coming." 
 
MUST READ👇
— Yano (@JasonYanowitz) <a href="https://twitter.com/JasonYanowitz/status/1238977743653687296?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">March 14, 2020</a></blockquote>
<script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script></div>
<a class="close-mark close-div" href="#" id="jqclosemark">×</a></div>

France and Germany, are reportedly 10 days behind Italy in terms of COVID-19's progression.&nbsp;

Italy has seen a spike in coronavirus cases in the past few days. The entire country is on lockdown. Hospitals are overcrowded, all stores have been asked to shut down except for supermarkets and pharmacies and travelling is only allowed if the Police permits.

Italy has seen a spike in coronavirus cases in the past few days. The entire country is on lockdown. Hospitals are overcrowded, all stores have been asked to shut down except for supermarkets and pharmacies and travelling is only allowed if the Police permits. The country is facing its biggest crisis in history and its people now want the world to know that it could have been prevented. A collective of artists in Milan called 'A THING BY' posted a video to their YouTube channel featuring Italians speaking to their past selves about the coronavirus, and what they wish they'd known 10 days ago. Olmo Parenti, a filmmaker and a member of the collective stated that since everyone was stuck at home, the idea could be easily implemented from home. Italy: A glance at country's unprecedented coronavirus lockdown In the video, people from different age groups can be seen addressing themselves and giving their future self a word of caution on the disease. Many of the people who appear in the video say they wish they had taken early directives to stay inside and practice social distancing more seriously. 'It's just a flu ... wait, maybe it's bad ... well, I don't know ...' We took it lightly," a woman in the video says. "We've seen worrisome videos from France and the US of people not taking this seriously," a man says. "The issue is more serious than most of the world believes." The video got over 3 million views (and counting) on YouTube. You can watch the video here: Not just through videos but the country is issuing warnings to the world through various social media platforms and how that the country has slowly been crippled due to the virus and that the world needs to learn from Italy and take adequate precaution. If you'e still hanging with friends, going to restaurants/bars, and acting like this isn't a big deal, get your shit together. The following thread is taken from an Italian citizen. As they put it: "To the rest of the world, you have no idea what's coming." MUST READ👇 — Yano (@JasonYanowitz) March 14, 2020 × France and Germany, are reportedly 10 days behind Italy in terms of COVID-19's progression.

'We took it lightly': Italians warn the world about COVID-19 pandemic in a shocking video