A World Health Organization emergencies expert says the new coronavirus could be with us forever. This means any stop-gaps to counter it may be futile. It could become a permanent feature like HIV, which introduced a new level of social responsibility. Our hopes are dented but it’s best to know the truth.
It’s On the Table: The New Coronavirus Could Be with Us Forever
“We have to put this possibility on the table”, WHO emergencies expert Mike Ryan said on Wednesday. SARS-Cov-19 may never go away. It could linger on as another epidemic in our communities. We therefore need a massive global effort to control it. This would be the case even if we found a vaccine, which he describes as a ‘massive moon shot’.
There has been some progress on the vaccine front with over 100 hopefuls in the pipeline. However we may never eliminate the virus completely. The new coronavirus could be with us forever like measles and influenza. The trajectory is in our hands. It’s all our business. We each have a role to play says WHO.
The Tension between Economics and Life Continues
We need to reopen our economies. This is not just about money. It links across to survival for billions living on or below the breadline. However, health scientists encourage ‘extreme caution’ with over 4 million infected cases already.
We have not yet found ways to control the portability of Covic-19 across borders and between cities either. We can’t keep locking our neighbors out forever. WHO emergencies expert Mike Ryan believes opening land borders is a possibility. But air travel remains a ‘difficult challenge’.
If the new coronavirus could be with us forever, then it might be time for us to adapt to it. Air travel is a good example. Perhaps we need to modify our travel culture and our aircraft, now the sobering news is on the table.
Related
The Double Bind of the Coronavirus Crisis
Leaving Lock Down, the Anxieties Return
Preview Image: Physical distancing in Toronto
Video Share Link: https://youtu.be/2HNcF5zC_cM
