The deadly Cornonavirus has locked down the earth and country after countries are enforcing ban on all mass activities. Several countries have banned mass gathering, shuttered sporting, cultural and religious events. People have been advised to practice “social distancing” to curb the spread. Many counties including India have banned entry of foreigners. U.S. has extended country’s travel ban to Britain and Ireland.
In the latest move France and Spain joined Italy in imposing lockdowns on people. Spain has put its 47 million inhabitants under partial lockdown on Saturday as part of a 15-day state of emergency . Its Europe’s second worst-affected country after Italy.
Spain has reported 193 deaths and 6,250 cases so far.
Argentina has banned entry to non-residents while Colombia has expelled four Europeans for violating compulsory quarantine protocols. It has closed its border with Venezuela.
South Korea has began to subject visitors from France, Germany, Britain, Spain and the Netherlands to stricter border checks from Sunday.
Australia has ordered self-isolation of arriving foreigners.Panic buying in Australia, the United States and Britain were reported.
Austria’s chancellor has announced bans on gatherings of more than five people and further limits on who can enter the country.It has urged people to self-isolate.
Even Vatican is locked down.In an unprecedented move, all of Pope Francis’ Easter services next month are to be held without the faithful attendance.
The spread of deadly virus is so severe that wives of Canadian and Spain prime ministers have tested positive and being kept in isolation. However, U.S. president Donald Trump, who was suspected of virus contamination, has tested negative Last week, Trump met a Brazilian delegation in which at least one member later tested positive.
China tightened checks on international travelers arriving at Beijing airport on Sunday, after the number of imported new coronavirus infections surpassed locally transmitted cases for a second day in a row.Anyone arriving to Beijing from abroad will be transferred directly to a central quarantine facility for 14 days for observation starting March 16.China has reported 80,984 cases and 3,203 deaths. The country imposed draconian containment policies from January, locking down several major cities.
Its almost a stampede the world over. The lockdown and subsequent bans have hit the trade and commerce hard. Travel restrictions have plunged globally air travel and airline have gone for cutbacks. Latest reports say American Airlines Inc (AAL.O) plan to cut 75% of international flights through May 6 and ground nearly all its widebody fleet.
The tremors of coronavirus outbreak have been felt in the markets the world over.Last week, within minutes, trading was suspended on multiple stocks as they hit the daily 10 percent limit. The knock-on effects of the virus are daily making themselves felt, from disrupted air travel to rattled supply chains and plummeting commodity prices that are dampening growth prospects from Southeast Asia to South America and beyond.
What is more discernible is the threat of biological warfare. What if such a deadly virus is used by terrorist outfits like ISIS, Taliban. Al-Quaida and Laskhar. India faces the greatet threat. Such a threat is fuelled by China accusations.Chinese diplomat has blamed US military for bringing coronavirus to Wuhan.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian republished a video of Robert Redfield, the director for the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, addressing a US Congressional committee on March 11. In the clip, Redfield said some influenza deaths in the US were later identified as cases of Covid-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Redfield didn't say when those people had died or over what time period, but Zhao pointed to his remarks in support of a growing conspiracy theory that the coronavirus did not originate in Hubei province in central China. He did not offer any further evidence for the claim.
Though experts have dismissed the accusation as diplomatic stunt but there is much between the words. There is a murmur that new coronavirus is a bioweapon and virus was purposefully unleashed that causes Covid-19 on the world. However, the murmur was widely dismissed by disease and defense experts. A good bioweapon, some note, wouldn’t spread as easily and indiscriminately as the new coronavirus does. Thank God, it wasn't.