In a country that is one of the top destinations for visitors to the world, the Coronavirus Catastrophe unfolding in China is a threat that must be addressed as soon as possible. The disease, which has been causing widespread havoc in China, has spread to neighboring countries such as Kyrgyzstan, Bangladesh, and Indonesia, and there are reports of thousands of people suffering from the virus.
Indonesia's daily jump in cases
Indonesia is on the verge of the COVID-19 catastrophe. The country has seen an increase of nearly 50 percent in the number of infections since the outbreak started. Currently, the country has at least 900 cases. It needs to increase testing and vaccination.
On Monday, Indonesia's Health Ministry reported the death of a 53-year-old foreign woman due to coronavirus. Two Indonesian nationals also tested positive for the virus.
A third person was related to one of the three affected people. They all had contact with the person infected with coronavirus.
Israel reported 705 coronavirus cases so far. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tightened his stay-at-home policy.
China's massive quarantine hospitals have not been shuttered
In the wake of the recent spike in coronavirus cases, Chinese officials have announced a new policy aimed at slowing the spread of the disease. The government said it had introduced physical and social distancing measures, such as tracing contacts and isolation. This has led to the number of suspected cases remaining steady and the number of laboratory-confirmed cases dropping slightly.
As the death toll in China continues to rise, countries around the world are preparing for a pandemic. Several regions have already recorded their first cases of COVID-19. It's believed that pangolins are the animals most likely to carry the virus.
Xu Zhangrun's critique of the Chinese Communist Party
Xu Zhangrun is a professor of law at Tsinghua University, Beijing. He has published a series of major essays that criticize the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) and the government's handling of social problems.
Xu has been criticized by many in China. Although he has not been detained, he has been forced into a state of house arrest and has been unable to travel or conduct research. Nevertheless, Xu's writings continue to provoke controversy in China.
Xu's writings are often characterized as being eloquent, literary, and replete with references to classical Chinese literature and Western literature. His style is free of CCP jargon.
COVID-19 cases in Bangladesh
In March and April, the number of COVID-19 cases increased dramatically in Bangladesh. According to government officials, 28,511 people were diagnosed and 7,200 patients were treated daily in the country. However, data on patient contact and travel is still scarce.
A new study on COVID-19 in Bangladesh provides novel insights into the transmission dynamics of the virus. The analysis is based on spatial data at both district and sub-district levels. This prospective approach allows health officials to monitor risk and take timely intervention measures. It also provides important policy guidelines for early preparations.
Before May, only two districts in central Bangladesh had a higher relative risk of exposure to COVID-19 infection. These were Dhaka and Kishoreganj. Other districts had no relative risk.
COVID-19 cases in Kyrgyzstan
After the Coronavirus Catastrophe unfolding in China, new COVID-19 cases have been reported in several regions. In Italy, Brazil, Greece, and Japan, the number of infections has surged.
The WHO is urging member nations to focus on treating patients and limiting the spread of the virus. But there are also fears it could become a pandemic, causing fatalities every year.
While the number of new infections worldwide is rising, the number of confirmed cases has decreased in some countries, especially in mainland China. Scientists are predicting that the epidemic will peak at some point, but the exact timing is unclear. Some models suggest the peak will happen in a few months, while others say it will occur much sooner.
Social media outbursts have been a constant game of cat and mouse
As the Coronavirus Catastrophe unfolds in China, social media outbursts have been a constant game of cat and mouse. Videos of protests, for instance, have been censored and blocked. However, a number of posts documenting protests have made their way onto popular Western platforms.
Chinese censors have been trying to control the narrative around anti-zero COVID protests. One way they do this is by promoting restrictions on freedom of movement in big cities. Another strategy is to block access to foreign news. In the meantime, Chinese internet users have begun to use humor to counteract censorship.
One of the most popular social media sites in China, WeChat, exploded with images of protests after the Urumqi fire. These videos lasted for minutes before they were censored.
The above references an opinion and is for information purposes only. It is not intended to be investment advice. Seek a duly licensed professional for investment advice.