A nice weekend of CNY feasting from last Friday evening into Monday, the 3rd day of the holidays. At the back of our minds, 3 situations were developing rapidly and unravelling this week.
The Corona Virus has started to sweep over the world and the infection rate just shot through the roof. It was first detected in Wuhan China on 01 Dec and by the end of that month, the Chinese authorities had started to sound the alarm bells. It looks like a virus from bats and the epicentre was the wildlife/seafood market that was based in Wuhan. While scientists are now able the replicate the virus in labs based on the DNA information that China had shared, the development of a vaccine is at least 3 to 6 months away.
It reminded me of SARS more than 17 years ago. We had no clue then on what had hit us, except that it was highly contagious and people were dying. Even healthy persons were affected. A very courageous doctor (Dr Alex Chao – RIP) whom I know from school had volunteered to help and succumbed to it. He had 2 young daughters then, whom I recently understand have grown to be successful graduates now.
The bank I was working in at that time in 2003 decided to send a group of us to the contingency office on the other side of the island in case the main office was quarantined. They said it was just for a day, then it became a week. Eventually, we were there for almost a month. It was months before we knew what had happened and how to deal with it.
Many years later, after similar incidents like MERS and Swine flu, the medical community is better prepared for a new virus to strike. However, the unease is still there as the infection and mortality statistics begin to rise rapidly in the last week. With this CNY period, it was difficult to stem the mass exodus of people travelling within China, let alone the rest of the world.
While it is too soon to forecast, the known information sounds more optimistic then I thought. Most of the known cases overseas are from Chinese tourists. Local infections seem to be very low at the moment. It could also be the cold weather in China that makes it more contagious, like the annual flu viruses that kill more than 250,000 people every year. Most vulnerable are those with pre-existing conditions and older people.
The next few days will be closely watched for signs and speed of non-Chinese infection outside China. The Chinese government has been more transparent this time, compared to the SARS period where they were trying to under-report the situation then.
People are starting to panic and medical masks are sold out nationally now. The government is providing regular updates to prevent rumour-mongering. I honestly believe that S’pore is doing a relatively good job so far. The government’s stockpile of masks has now been distributed to its citizens. Tighter travel restrictions on Chinese tourists have also kicked in. People have been told to avoid crowded areas and some events have been cancelled.
Brexit has finally happened on 31 Jan. The UK officially leaves the EU and has the next 11 months to negotiate and finalize the terms for the various sectors. I am negative on this as I believe that there will be a big impact on the UK, especially its top financial centre status. Scotland still wants to stay within EU and Ireland has a problematic border issue to resolve after this divorce. The United Kingdom countries of England, Wales, Scotland and Ireland may not continue into the future. Boris will have a tough job keeping things in control. My older son will be going to Oxford to study in Oct, so a weak GBP currency is good for him 🙂
The impeachment trial of Trump by congress has been a farce so far. No witnesses allowed, are you kidding me? In general, Americans have double standards applied to others. What they can do to other countries previously, they cry murder now when another country does it to them. Russians rigged the 2016 elections? Hasn’t America done it to countless countries before? Globally, countries are laughing in glee, now that the US is suffering the same fate that it has done to others.
It looks likely that GOP is going to acquit Trump next Wed. The decline of democracy is happening and social media is hastening this journey. Just look at the US airports and roads – China already has high-speed rail and impressive airports plus a great AI strategy for technology while America has none. The decline of America is happening before our eyes and we have to thank Trump for it.
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