As the coronavirus spreads and the global economy tanks, the world looks for a way out

Asia Times, links to articles





Searching for an exit strategy
As the coronavirus spreads and the global economy tanks, the world looks for a way out


















There’s practically nowhere left for coronavirus to spread its infectious tentacles – even North Korea has conceded it needs international help to fight the scourge. All governments can do now is mitigate its impact. But as the infection spread to the global economy, it is clear some nations are having more success than others.

While France, Italy, the UK and parts of the United States went into lockdown, the streets of Japan remained busy. As the weather warmed up, people were gathering in droves to get drunk under the blossoming cherry trees, some restaurants were offering 30% “Beat The Coronavirus” discounts, public transport was full and even amusement parks were reopening. So why aren’t more people dying? The answer is not simple: multiple factors are at work, writes Jake Adelstein.

The opposite is true for Malaysia, where infections have more than doubled since unprecedented nationwide restrictions on movement went into effect on March 18, shuttering non-essential businesses and bringing military patrols onto the nation’s streets.

Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin announced on March 25 that his government’s Movement Control Order would be extended to April 14, two weeks beyond its initial cut-off, because the trend of new infections “is expected to continue for a while before new cases begin to subside”. Nile Bowie reports.

Even China, so confident of the effectiveness of its efforts to curb the epidemic that it began lifting travel and isolation restrictions this week, reported a jump in infections, mostly imported.

That may not play well for President Xi Jinping. A swell of discontent over his initial handling of the crisis deepened when a leading Communist Party member launched a scathing attack on his leadership. Admonishing Xi as a “clown”, Chinese tycoon Ren Zhiqiang said the president deserved a fair share of the blame for the a series of official bungles, including a cover up of the epidemic’s extent, writes Frank Chen.

Things got no better for the leadership when an official apology by the Wuhan police for its treatment of Dr Li Wenliang, who alerted the public about the coronavirus via social media, failed to appease an outraged public, writes Joy Dong.









Well prepared: Taiwan's swift move to synchronise and aggregate the databases of its public health insurance network, household registry and immigration management for better monitoring and tracking has helped the island stave off a widespread epidemic









Naturally, as more of the world succumbs, so people look for cures. And potential candidates have come from far and wide.

While Cuba was said to be distributing a new “wonder drug” that officials there say is capable of treating the coronavirus, Asia Times correspondent Pepe Escobar probed reports of the “disappearance” of French stocks of a drug called cholorquine. His findings would make uneasy reading for the Elysé Palace, as collusion between the government and big pharma is suspected in the depletion of the potential life-saving treatment.

If you can’t cure it, at least try to slow it, and in that regard Taiwan appears to be a master.

The island state has managed to stave off a widespread epidemic in its densely populated urban centers, despite its close proximity with mainland China and frequent exchanges with its largest trade partner, writes KG Chan.

One particular aspect deserving emulation has been the island’s swift move to synchronise and aggregate the databases of its public health insurance network, household registry and immigration management for better monitoring and tracking.

Let's hope its a lesson the world can learn.

Read the full stories on Asia Times
As virus recedes in China, anti-Xi revolt is spreading
Japan’s winning its quiet fight against Covid-19
Cuban ‘wonder drug’ being used worldwide: official
Why France is hiding a cheap and tested virus cure
Fears of a second wave grow in China
Malaysian lockdown can’t curb Covid-19 spread
Taiwan serves as model in global virus battle
Apology fails to dampen public outrage over Li
North Korea swallows its pride and asks for help