Failing

An infection anywhere is an infection everywhere.

We now know that the deadly virus we are fighting respects no race, religion or political borders. Wherever this virus runs rampant, it is a threat to all of humanity.

This is the reason why many of us celebrated New Zealand’s announcement that it has killed the virus within its borders. But restrictions on travel will remain to keep the virus away and prevent resurgence. The country, of course, has geographical advantages, being an archipelago on the edge of the earth.

In the same breath, we should all be concerned that the US appears to be failing badly in fighting the pandemic. More than that, the country threatens to become a black hole sucking in the rest of the global economy.

To date, the US accounts for a third of all infections worldwide. The number of confirmed cases passed a million a few days ago and continues unabated. The number of US deaths caused by COVID-19 nears 60,000.

Compare that with India’s numbers. The second most populous country, with one of the weakest health care systems anywhere, tallied 31,360 cases and 1,008 deaths. That translates into 0.76 deaths per million as against the US tally of 175 deaths per million.

The US has one of the strongest health care systems in the world. The failure will have to be attributed to the chaotic (and anti-scientific) leadership of the Trump administration.

When the epidemic broke out in China, the world’s most populous country locked down specific cities and provinces. India was tougher, locking down the entire subcontinent to contain infections early and effectively. Throughout India, only the voice of science prevailed.

Today, we will learn how many more American workers will file for unemployment benefits. Over the past five weeks, over 26 million Americans filed unemployment claims. That proportion of unemployed workers approximates that of the Great Depression of 1929. Today, that will likely be exceeded.

Bank analysts are predicting the US could lose a third of its economy by yearend. We do not know how it could limp forward next year, especially if a second wave of infections happens.

It will take years for the US to climb out of this economic hole. It will take longer if that country continues with the chaotic Trump administration. One Italian writer put the predicament quite well: in the middle of a storm, the captain is dancing on the deck and shouting at the wind.

Trump, deflecting attention from his horrible incompetence, blamed the Democrats, the governors, China and the World Health Organization (WHO) for the ghastly spread of the virus in his country.  Last week, he mused about ingesting household disinfectants as a means to fight the virus. Next week, he will likely blame the country’s best scientists, including those on his own task force.

Trump had earlier cut US funding for the WHO. This is the worse time to do so. The international health agency sets protocols and transfers knowledge to all countries to bring concerted global action to effectively fight this pandemic.

Only global solidarity will enable humanity to win over this virus. Trump, whose universe never extends beyond his ego, will never understand that.

Backliners

Earlier this week, all of the United Kingdom paused for a minute of silence to honor all those at the frontline against the pandemic. That was a moving moment, so full of love and respect. The frontliners, health workers particularly, deserve all the adulation.

But let us not forget the “backliners” – all the rest of those who hold “essential” jobs required by all societies. Included here are the law enforcers, the security guards and the barangay volunteers to take risks as well to help keep up the fight against the plague.

Where I live, we are happy the trash collectors still come on schedule despite the risks involved. Uncollected trash could breed other health hazards.

At the bank where I serve, a senior officer succumbed to the virus. But work continues. Otherwise the financial system will freeze up.

Energy Secretary Al Cusi prays some credit be given to the “Philippine energy family” and other essential workers in water, communication and transportation. They too took personal risks and offered much sacrifice to keep our basic systems operations through the lockdown.

On March 16, Cusi rallied the energy stakeholders around a clear goal: the unhampered delivery of energy services however long the quarantine may last. A Memorandum on Ensuring the Unimpeded Delivery of Energy Services was issued on the first day of the lockdown.

Among other things, the memorandum established a dedicated Bayanihan: 24/7 Energy Services hotline was set up to attend to all energy-related concerns. Cusi likewise issued several directives aiming to ease the financial burden of both industry players and consumers throughout the health emergency. The Energy Department is now building scenarios for the “new normal” to ensure energy sufficiency as the economy prepares for post-COVID recovery.

Then let us not forget to honor the private companies who rose to the challenges of this health emergency with aplomb.

The most generous conglomerate thus far has been the San Miguel Corp. Days into the lockdown, all the San Miguel food plants were up and running. A large portion of its production was allocated for donations.

In addition, SMC flew in medical protective gear when the need for them was most urgent. This week, the company brought in by chartered flight state-of-the-art laboratory equipment that will more than double our existing testing capacity using more reliable kits.