It’s all over the world. I mean Covid-19, the viral infection hoping to wipe out a substantial chunk of the global population. It’s only a virus, visible under a microscope but it has brought the world to its knees. It has crippled the global economy, shut down factories, closed offices, tanked global oil prices and broken the backs of even the most powerful nations and their leaders. Covid-19 means business and is no respecter of persons.
Research tends to support a 20s jinx. A widely circulated clip from Roots recalled how in 1720, 100,000 people died from the Plague of Marseilles. A hundred years later in 1820, the global cholera epidemic killed 100,000 souls while the Spanish flu of 1920 infected 500 million people and wiped out 100,000 people. As at March 11, an estimated 125,000 people have contracted Covid-19. Although only a small portion of that number have succumbed to the disease, thanks to global enlightenment, this virus has hit both the powerful and the weak.
As you read, the Canadian Prime Minister and his wife were self-isolating after the Madam returned from a trip to Europe with flu-like symptoms. In London, the health minister has done the same thing. The lists of infected people have ranged from the unknown to the famous. Actor Tom Hanks and his wife were being treated in far-away Australia. Entire sports teams are being asked to self-quarantine.
The virus that forced the WHO to baptize it and later declare it a global pandemic is not as powerful as it seems. Compared to its predecessors, it is mild killing less than 25% of its victims thanks to the converted efforts of epidemiologists and the fact that it originated from China where they have the capacity to rein it in. If it had started elsewhere, especially in any of the struggling third world nations, it would have decimated a substantial chunk of the population.
Nevertheless, this is not a virus to be welcomed with the usual complacency. It is one that could start with a single infection only to shut up within the space of few hours. This is why third world countries, especially Africa should not buy the story that it is somehow immune to the virus. Like some opportunists that initially attributed this virus to divine punishment for sin, Africa must learn from South Korea. Already, the headquarters of the two global religious groups – Mecca and The Vatican have suspended religious pilgrimage and other religious activities.
In South Korea casualty figures would have been less except that the Shincheonji Church sect believed it had divine exception to the pandemic. It paid dearly for that forcing its leader to apologize. African leaders need to be proactive and ensure that no religious charlatan takes advantage of the virus to hoodwink the people.
While the pandemic is ravaging other nations, forcing land, air and sea closures, humanity has shown its resilience in other ways. In Nigeria where less than a dozen cases have been reported, comedians are making jokes of the virus.
On the butt of their jokes of course is the Nigerian government. Several social media posts believe that the virus has grounded the presidential fleet for the first time in five years. Truth is, Covid-19 has put the whole world on red alert. Conferences, seminars and workshops that used to attract our leaders have been cancelled globally.
In the midst of the doom and gloom, skits have been written on the virus. One such described a trending governor as the Corona virus of his state. Another, obviously written in the Yoruba language asks – how do you tell that the King has Covid-19? In Yoruba you simply say – Oba ni koro!
In other parts of the globe global handshakes have been replaced with ankle nudges and legshakes where with arms firmly folded, friends touch each others shoes with the tip of the shoe as a sign of greeting.
In the first world where the virus migrated after moving from China, there has been panic buying of household items such as tissue papers, soaps and hand sanitizers. Big stores now have empty shelves while some have signs announcing that the needed items would be out of stock for the next couple of months. Most of the items being hoarded are made in China and the virus has forced the machines to close down.
Some Youtubers and social media influencers are trying to outdo each other peddling untested remedies while virologists and epidemiologists are working hard to get the right information out there. People are advised not to touch their faces when out, to use tissues once and throw them away, avoid contact with sick people and to stay at home if they suspect they are ill and above all to wash hands for at least 20 seconds with soap. Observing these rules of hygiene is known to keep the virus at bay.
Myths that Africa would be the final burial ground of Covid-19 are either mere conjecture or pure bunkum. Our continent is most unprepared for this disease. It is struggling and failing to curtail malaria and other preventable and treatable diseases. It has no access to water and other sanitary issues. Its trained medical personnel are migrating to foreign lands where their bread is buttered and its hospitals have no capacity to deal with a pandemic of this proportion.
As far as this virus is concerned – nobody is safe or immune. It’s once again, everyone for himself and God for us all. Stay safe everyone.
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