The coronavirus epidemic is taking the world by storm. First identified in China, the disease has now been confirmed in over 50 different countries, including many underdeveloped nations. While the illness seems to be currently under control, its long-term effects could likely spiral for the worse, especially when considering the infected countries’ economic statuses.
For starters, the coronavirus is posing a threat of a global recession. According to a New York Times analysis, the week of Monday, Feb. 24, to Friday, Feb. 28, had the largest stock market loss since the 2008 crisis. In parallel, the Chinese economy has been destabilized, creating numerous repercussions: Apple has announced a possible iPhone shortage due to factory shutdowns in China and the F.D.A has also alerted consumers about a possible drug shortage. If actualized, this scenario would be highly detrimental to countries at the mercy of the financially impaired superpowers.
In addition, health care systems are easily overwhelmed, particularly in the face of an epidemic. If developed countries like Italy and Australia are already dealing with this problem, imagine just how vulnerable people who rely on emerging nations’ public medical aid are. Government-managed health services in third-world countries tend to lack general infrastructure on account of political corruption and mysteriously reallocated funds. An increasing global inequality in conjunction with an inefficient public health system and a growing private health sector can only strengthen the marginalization of those with lower incomes. Add a universal economic crisis into the mix and you have the perfect formula for complete social exclusion.
All this could further escalate in a post-truth context. Anticipating a disaster makes people anxious and more prone to acting irrationally and not thinking critically. The volatile public could be manipulated for the sake of political gain simply through the spread of misleading information. People wronged by flawed educational systems are unable to discern fake news from truthful information. When the major demographic is oblivious to reality, the only possible result is alienation, facilitating utter and complete chaos. Deceptive diversions may be unlawful, but panic is democratic: It affects everybody. From conspiracy theories during Brazil’s 2016 Zika virus outbreak to the anti-vaccination tactic of spreading misinformation in order to keep people from getting vaccines, this phenomenon has happened before.
The coronavirus has already been used as the final excuse to justify oppressive acts, a tendency likely to worsen. Recent cases of racism against Chinese people and those of Chinese descent have increased. A student of Chinese descent from Singapore was attacked in London because of his ethnicity toward the end of February. In a broader multinational context, Mexico’s contamination could heighten Trump’s intolerance toward Hispanic people because he considers increasing border security to be a matter of public health.
Despite the seemingly apocalyptic potential surrounding the coronavirus, the future is not completely doomed. The majority of contamination cases are “moderate” rather than fatal. Furthermore, given the circumstances, local authorities from developing nations have been handling this new threat considerably well. Brazilian scientists have already begun decoding the coronavirus genome and investigating its origins, making the possibility of a vaccine more tangible.
If COVID-19 further disseminates itself, emerging nations could face devastating and irreversible consequences. As a collective, we cannot afford to let this virus spread itself. While the situation remains uncertain, listen to science and experts. Stay informed. Wash your hands. Cover your coughs and sneezes. Respect people of Chinese descent and check your privilege while you do so. And if an eventual vaccine comes around, be sure to get it.
Hadass Leventhal is a freshman undecided major from São Paulo, Brazil.
