COVID-19 VIRUS FINDS AN ALLY

If there is any thing more dangerous than the COVID-19 itself, it is the politicians across the world pushing for opening of non-essential economy. President Trump is currently the most vocal and a forceful politician and arguably the most powerful leader who seems to have thrown caution to the winds.

Trump is using his ability to bring people on the streets to create a "them versus us" scenario, where a section of population underestimates the devastating reach of this pandemic and starts protesting against those who support restraint, till a proven vaccine is developed. If anything, it is the shutdown that is saving lives. Countries are woefully underprepared, with lack of PPEs and adequate facilities or health care staff.

IN THE USA, SHUTDOWN IS NOW A POLITICAL FIGHT

Urban areas that are badly affected, have been more under Democratic party's hold as compared to rural areas, that vote conservative, where the cases of virus are less. The highly contagious nature of this virus makes urban areas more susceptible than rural. President Trump has latched on to these statistics to create a schism where people are agitated enough to protest against social distancing and shut downs, calling shutdown as "unpatriotic" and an "overreaction"

For past few weeks American media has provided a blow by blow account, with proof, of how President Trump was slow and in-effective in handling of the Pandemic during its initial stages. Response from Trump was on expected lines. WHO got blamed, as did China and then threatened to adjourn both chambers of Congress, if his nominees were not confirmed. https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/493044-trump-threatens-to-adjourn-both-chambers-of-congress

FOR A FISTFUL OF DOLLARS

With no vaccine in sight yet, still the curve flattened. President Trump touted this as good enough reason to unveil a staged opening up of economy. People have observed strict stay-at-home policy, rather than pay a stressful visit to overcrowded, understaffed and underequipped hospitals. That self distancing flattened the curve.

This is not a virus that vanishes with a prayer and doesn't come back. It "hops" from the asymptomatic carriers onto someone with a weaker immune system and chokes the life out of them.

Millions are out of work, but they are alive. That for now is a good enough reason for their families and loved ones to stay safe and survive in a closed economy. Rather than milling in and out of crowded places and bringing back a deadly virus putting families and communities in danger, people deserve a safe and healthy working environment.

USA leads the globally reported numbers in terms of people infected and dead. The days of Friday game nights, pizza parties, packed theatres, busy malls and glitzy casinos will now have to wait till there is a proven vaccine is available. Till then social distancing is our only safeguard. Closed borders, enclosed people are what doctors advise, for now. Economists, Capitalists and Politicians should not be the ones driving the course of recovery. It has to be the medical fraternity and no one else.

This has been declared a Pandemic for a reason. Scientists across the world are working tirelessly, and with today's technological advancement, still are unable to come out with a vaccine. This itself should give everyone a pause, most importantly politicians who fancy to have been vested with unlimited powers. President Trump is not the most ideal person to lead this recovery.

Social distancing measures will lead to an economy that is functioning at less than its full capacity. Work from home will be the norm for foreseeable future, bars, restaurants, will be take out only. Identification of hot stops or danger zones are possible with adequate number of testing kits. That according to experts will lead to a safe and well-planned calibrated opening up of the economy.

A mass testing system that can quickly and effectively identify, isolate and trace those who are infected by COVID-19.

America currently lacks adequate testing devices. While experts warn that the requirement is to be able to do millions of tests per day, which is far from what we have right now. Hospitals lack sufficient tests kits, or / and swabs, or the required supplies for the labs to test the upload the result for doctors to make proper diagnosis.

CANADA SAYS NO – KEEPS ITS BORDERS SEALED

While Trump is suspected to keep his own political ambitions at the forefront, rather than defer to medical data and expert's advice.

Ramming through any expertise contrary to opening up of the US economy, phase 1, according to his power point slides, and put peoples lives at risk starting May 1. The economy might not jump start, but it will definitely lead to choked medical services system. But, by then President Trump would have capably deflected any ongoing criticism of his inept handling of this Pandemic.

Crash on Global oil demand might be forcing his hand as shutdown has resulted in unprecedented crash in oil demand. US is now grappling with the steepest oil price drop in the history compounded by the stock market drop.

The easy way out of this economic mess is to induce people to go out pretending they are safe and the pandemic is just an over reaction.

DOUG FORD FIGHTS FIRE WITH FIRE

Canada has sanely declined to be all gung-ho about being led into taking a rash decision of loosening up of shutdown, and let its guard down. Prime minister Justin Trudeau spelt it out for any border opening between US and Canada, while Doug Ford fought fire with fire as he bluntly stated "We don't want them here!"