COVID-19 – When Travesty Saved Lives -By Femi Onakanren

It is scary how quickly reality can come under review, how quickly everything previously held up as the standard and reference lose significance and relevance. The world is groaning under the strain of an invisible, indiscriminate and unrelenting enemy, the COVID-19 corona virus. The first public case was recorded on 8 January, 2020 in Wuhan China and in the ensuing weeks, the virus had literally conquered the world without a single shot being fired; this was a masterclass in global conquest. The impact outstrips most Armageddon scenarios as it seems the planet is trying to ‘control’, ‘exterminate’ the ‘human virus’ by ironically using a relatively simple form, low lethality corona virus and let our collective hubris lead the way to perdition. In a sweeping example of ruthless efficiency, it seems, as with the Eve/serpent and Jesus’ temptation stories, all that is needed is to sow the seed and our capacity for self-destruction will take up the baton.

We laughed and were amazed by China’s efficiency in building a 1,000 bed hospital in 10 days (in Nigeria it was used as another stick to beat our government with, a validation of our incompetence but guess what? No other country was able to replicate such efficiency). We reduced the disease to a ‘Chinese’ problem. We treated the incidence with all the wisdom and self-awareness of the man that sees his neighbor’s house burning and rather than help, sits chilling on his lawn watching the spectacle in the smug belief that the fire has an identity/geographical/racial restriction order.

In less than 90 days, as at the time of this article, the world was compelled to stand still while leaders of different countries and pursuits scrambled to find a solution or containment strategy. Lockdowns, quarantine, self-isolation, social distancing etc. have become common phrases and expressions. Our collective realities have been radically altered. The few who can get tested are living in trepidation and the many that are unable to get access are living in fear and panic. This is an enemy that cannot be negotiated nor reasoned with; it has its own agenda in following nature’s default mandate to all its inhabitants; be fruitful and multiply. The ridiculous turned even more macabrely hilarious when it was revealed that simple hygiene and social practices (wash your hands, clean public spaces, avoid unnecessary exposure etc.), respect of social spaces and common sense were the biggest antidotes to the virility of the disease. Unfortunately, the simple things are usually the hardest to implement and it seems the virus knew our collective hubris and weakness. When this is juxtaposed with narrow minded, partisan political intrigues at national and global levels, the allure of avarice in economic planning, mutual distrust, preexisting social imbalance, poor social infrastructure and an increasingly informed(?) but poorly reasoning population, the stage is set for an end of days of biblical proportions.

However, there is a travesty to this global tragedy. The overwhelming majority of the casualties seems to be prevalent in countries long mooted to have better operating systems and social structures; the so called ‘saner climes’, developed countries and mature economies. This goes against every logical grain as these would be expected to be, at the least insulated, and at the worst better prepared and more capable to handle a disaster of this scale. Curiously, the socially and economically afflicted, poorly led and disenfranchised states with questionable democracies, poor to struggling economies, poor infrastructure, poor healthcare and eroding cultural identities seem to be doing better during this during this pandemic. These countries would naturally be expected to be the most affected during such a global pandemic outbreak especially considering that their access to the basic preventive measures previously highlighted (simple hygiene, respect of social spaces and common sense) are largely luxuries they can ill afford or have existing.

This has forced a review and rethink of the values of our modern society/world. It would appear that advanced social and political structures, progressive science and technology growth and egalitarian populist philosophies are inimical to human survival. This is not just a saddening irony; it is a travesty!
(Please note: some countries such as New Zealand and Germany (coincidentally led by women) amongst others, have demonstrated remarkable aptitude in limiting the spread of the virus. These countries are outliers in the ‘saner climes’ narrative; they are exceptions to the norm. A review of their approach, structures and systems would bear valuable analysis)

The Travesties…

Healthcare and Basic Amenities

The reported numbers in Europe, China and US are quite frankly scary. Even if we accept that China, being ground zero, would have high infections and fatality numbers, the astronomical growth, exponential virility and eye watering deadliness of the infection in US and Europe is beyond ridiculous. These are the nations with the best healthcare facilities in the world! They have inadequate equipment and their vaunted preparedness has been shamelessly found wanting. The reported numbers read like a page in a horror movie script and the fact Africa and other developing countries do not have matching or worse numbers is quite the curiosity; it is a travesty!

It would appear that these countries benefited from the failure of their healthcare system. In so-called ‘saner climes’, most of the citizens have access to proper social healthcare, health insurance and social buffers. It would appear that proper care has weakened the native human immunity of the citizens of these areas and they are more susceptible to health risks. In less sane climes, having a functional immune system is your best guarantee of survival as there are no fallback options due to prevailing poor healthcare system, poor infrastructure and maladministration. Most do not have basic amenities like potable water and often rely on self-medication and over-the-counter treatments. One’s survival and the survival of family and friends literally depend on these.

This is made even starker given our cultural inclination to touching and poor hygiene conditions. People urinate and defecate indiscriminately, there’s hardly water to wash hands regularly, commerce is conducted in cramped, unsanitary conditions across different industries and sectors… this is the ideal petri dish for a pandemic. But the mortality rate and infection cases are quite mild comparatively. It would be naïve to assume the infection is not around, it is safer to assume it is on ground but not as lethal as in ‘saner climes’. What is the justification? We lack proper monitoring and data collection so the infection is probably body hopping with reckless abandon like teenagers on spring break. We probably have a lot of undocumented, asymptomatic infected/carriers walking about, sharing the virus in morbid charity, oblivious of the danger they live with and among. The low fatality can only be explained through a superior immune factor or some divine bias. Please be advised that this does not suggest the virus has racial, age, gender or geographical discrimination; it is in fact quite egalitarian and democratic. This is an equal opportunity nightmare. It appears our irresponsibility induced immunity is our saving grace! This is further buttressed by the fact that African Americans have the highest racial mortal casualties of this pandemic in the United States.
Provision of basic amenities has always been a challenge for the not-so-sane societies. Huge infrastructure deficit makes it difficult to perform simple tasks and to live a better life. Issues such as
Poor road networks and transportation systems; limiting the ability to move around efficiently and thus, efficiently spread the virus to the hinterlands. This does not mean the virus would not spread; it just assures that it lacks the brutal, assisted efficiency of modern transportation systems and logistics.

Poor to Limited telecommunications infrastructure and penetration; this ensured reduced access to the global mayhem and thus ensured reduced panic. For a yet to be fully understood or contained virus, panic management is as important as any vaccine or drug. The fact most of these nations also have poor databases and inefficient reporting systems means the real impact is probably under reported and the people are finding alternative means of dealing with the menace of the pandemic.

These, amongst several others, are enabling natural social distancing resources… what a travesty!
Political Philosophy

The gospel of political systems according to western leanings has promoted ‘democracy’. The ideal is quite fascinating but is largely impractical. It is an ideal being promoted as system. Even the biggest promoters are unable to implement it in its purest, simplest form. This is amusing when considering that the history of the last two centuries cannot be properly presented without admitting the role the that western democratic values has had on every facet of life.

However, this pandemic has revealed that politics is played by animals, not ideologies, and animals cannot be better than being animals. The pandemic’s country of origin has recorded the fastest recovery and containment of the virus. Enforcement of social orders under the socialist state is far easier than the under democracy where the rights of the individual is held as inalienable. This is not advocating for the adoption of the socialist system nor an endorsement of its superiority. The western democratic principles are far more accommodating and humane in outlook but the benefits of the socialist system, with its ideology, in protecting the community. This shows that political philosophies are not one size fit all and cultural nuances must be considered in the development of any sustainable system.

Education and awareness is an almost divine right of developed economies. Because a lot has been invested in developing the reasoning and comprehension abilities of these countries, information management is more easily administer. This of course means the developing countries are more exposed to propaganda and misinformation; gullibility is a natural descendant of ignorance. However the flip side also applies. The implementation of herd mentality for enforcement during periods of crisis such as the world is experiencing now is relatively easier in this unsavory circumstances. This limitation means that the development of political thought and ideologies are the reserve of a few venerable individuals to whom the majority have ceded almost autocratic control.

The back and forth/continuous deliberation the democratic systems require may not be the best for certain societies especially in cases of emergencies. The structures in the democratic system which were designed to safeguard the society such as consensus, freedom of speech, freedom of the press etc. are the stumbling blocks for quick implementation of effective control measures. The cacophony of political opinions and drama of different self-interests makes leadership a tenuous position at best or a media event at best; playing to the gallery to justify actions and purportedly carry-along the populace who cannot really be bothered by anything aside from results. The iron hand now does not require a velvet glove… The whole situation is a travesty!

Economic Outlook

It is obvious that the world would be plunged into an economic crisis which would make the great depression of 1933 seem like a civil servant being broke. The world has changed irredeemably and the global economy is the first casualty of the post covid-19 world. Incidentally, the best positioned nations are those with the social and political structures that would drag its economies relentlessly with the society as the principal objective rather than those with ingrained capitalist structures. Capitalism will see an opportunity for personal enrichment while socialism calls for collective recovery. That socialism seems more capable in handling the post-apocalyptic economic crisis is a big travesty.

As an example, the economies that control the price of fossil fuels, supply and demand, are mostly autocratic and decisions are not made with individual leanings. They are stronger because for good or ill, the society is the principal concern. The nature of capitalism is very different.

In emerging economies and developing countries, they are already at a disadvantage; they are behind the curve so this is a ‘natural’ leveler. Most of those economies survive on the adventure and grit of the informal sectors as against the formalized, structured settings of developed economies. This decentralization is likely to reduce the overall effect of the coming economic turbulence. America and Europe are declaring huge unemployment figures on the back of this pandemic because formal structures require certain processes which are luxuries to the informal sector driven emerging economies. The only problem envisaged is the ability of the leadership of the developing countries to take advantage of the flatter curve by pushing their capacities on the areas they were lacking to higher, better levels. Does survival and thriving now depend on these supposedly flawed structures and maligned situations? What a travesty!

Conclusion

This is not adjudication for any particular style or system; it is just a reflection on the results of different approaches to defining a path for a country/society/community. This pandemic has revealed big gaps in so-called working systems and the inadvertent benefits of certain limitations. However, for all the benefits revealed by this travesty, one must be reminded that even a broken clock, with the minute and hour hands intact, is correct twice a day. A quick caveat: not all developed economies are struggling and not all developing economies are unaffected, there are outliers in every scenario. What is certain is that this is a global event and no one is getting out unscathed.

This pandemic should be taken as an opportunity for deep introspection. This is not a celebration of the sad limitations of the developing economies; it is a review of survival mechanics despite obvious challenges and issues. This should be seen as an opportunity for developing economies to catch up on lapses in social, political and economic deficits. The question of identity needs to be resolved with a focus on developing bespoke, culturally relevant solutions. The whole world has been flattened; we will all have to get up together.

Similarly, developed economies have a chance to critically review the human elements within their existing structures. Pontificating about superior processes and ideologies has to be replaced with self-awareness driven philosophies and solutions, there must be respect for, and review of, individual cultural processes rather than continuous pursuit and enforcement of a jaundiced liberal epicurean ideals in science, technology, economics and political solutions.