Coronavirus: What We Learnt From The Pandemic So Far

There’s always a lesson behind everything that’s happened. Here are some lessons we have picked up so far from the pandemic.

The Vital Role Of Multilateral Institutions

The pandemic has highlighted the importance of organisations such as World Health Organisation (WHO) and the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The ongoing pandemic is a strong reminder of the crucial role played by WHO in managing international public health. With the lack of US leadership, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s director-general, is leading the fight against the pandemic.

The economic consequences of the pandemic is global and catastrophic, as nations shut their borders and put their people on lockdown. This has lead to business shutdowns and rising unemployment. Now, many countries are suffering financially.

The IMF has warned that it it likely a global recession that is worse than the 2008–2009 global financial crisis would strike. The IMF has also reported that more than 80 nations have sought the IMF for help.

The pandemic has given us a strong reminder that we live in a very interconnected and interdependent world. What happens in one country, in this case China, will affect the rest. In such circumstances, cooperation between countries is of vital importance. Therefore, multilateral institutions such as WHO and IMF, and multilateralism as a whole, should not be in the slightest, dismissed.

The Importance of Public Health

The pandemic has also emphasised the importance of having a comprehensive, affordable and efficient healthcare system

South Korea, Singapore, Hong Kong and Taiwan have very high standards of public health as well as healthcare systems. This is one reason why they have been more effective in dealing with the pandemic.

The Need For Responsible Leaders

The countries that have responded better to the pandemic are led by leaders who make decisions based on science, reason and expert advice. Hence the world needs political leaders who are responsible and sound in their decision making.

One example of an irresponsible and unsound decision is made by Britain’s government to let the virus spread within the community so that the British population would develop ‘herd immunity’ against it. Experts at Imperial Collage London said that such a decision could result in the deaths of 250 000 people. Eventually, the British government withdrew that decision.

Some nations have poorly dealt with the pandemic because they are led by irresponsible leaders who disregard expert advice and who are mainly interested in their own political gain and political agendas

Honesty and transparency are also qualities that we need in our leaders. When leaders have those qualities, it is easier to build trust between them and their followers. When trust is established, the people would easily comply with the instructions and advice given by their governments.

Food Security As A Priority

The final lesson that’s highlighted here is the importance of strengthening our food security. For instance, countries should have a wider range of sources for their wheat, meat, vegetables, rice and fish instead of only depending on a single source. As trade walls rise and governments preserve their own food sources out of panic, the pandemic threatens to cut global food supply chains. Since it’s important that people are not deprived of their right to food, having a strong food security should therefore be every government’s top priority.