The photographs and news reports of people in the Chinese city of Wuhan, the epicentre of the Coronavirus outbreak in 2020, enjoying their new year celebrations while reports of curtailed events in the UK, especially in Edinburgh with its deserted Princes St. instead of the famous annual street party celebrated by tens of thousands, has caused some surprise and consternation in both mainstream and social media (Indian Times, 2021)
Although face masks were being worn by the good citizens of Wuhan, along with the fireworks the attendant crowds were considerable in what a year-ago was a no-go area containing an unknown deadly virus. With its spread around the world during 2020 and now with the discovery of a more infection variant of COVID-19 has brought countries, like the UK, to an almost standstill for the second time within a year.
It is hard to witness and accept the status of the virus’s host city seeming so normal when many Westerners are facing weeks, if not months, in lockdown through Winter/early Spring 2021. Is the new variant of Coronavirus not evident in China at all- not even in the place it originated?
Are any such questions ever going to be addressed in better detail moreover further explanation of how the disease spread from bats in the wet market in Wuhan to the human population? A convincing update would be useful appreciated and timely.
Our politicians should insist on it and look to the economy more so as the effects on businesses, education and all the activities involved in the restrictions of people gathering whether ceremonial, for entertainment or arts are devasting both economically and socially.
The UK’s Boris Johnston or Scotland’s Nicola Sturgeon et al are in a difficult position and trying what they believe is best, although the numbers still suggest COVID-19’s most deadly effects are on the over-65s or people with an underlying health condition. Thus, ending this new lockdown must be a priority or the social economic and educational effects of the lockdowns are going to be felt for years after the vaccination programmes are completed (if indeed they remain effective).
Being the perpetual nanny reacting to every statistic provided maybe well intentioned. However, a wider perspective is also required to ascertain the where and how this disease occurred and what needs to be done to avoid it again plus to rectify the situation to avoid social disruption and economic ruination and not just by-the-week public health measures. There needs to be greater thought and effort made now by both the Scottish and UK governments working together, and not to their own agendas, alongside the WHO and other governments to build a sustainable recovery phase. The stakes are too high not to do so.
Notably, stock markets had a mixed performance in early new year trading with reactions to new variants and economic expectations in the coming year. The UK being considered cheaper than most other major financial markets had a positive start. With a second lockdown how much longer can such optimism survive?
LDC.
References.
India Times, (2021), ‘From Ghost Town To Packed Streets: See How Wuhan Celebrated The New Year’ by A. Tiwari, India Times: 2020 Times Internet Ltd. Available online at:https://www.indiatimes.com/trending/social-relevance/wuhan-new-year-celebration-photos-530942.html