Flu outbreak reveals US’ true colours

Cowl of the report “China’s Battle In opposition to COVID-19 Epidemic: A Decisive Marketing campaign” by the Shanghai Institute for Worldwide Research (SIIS) Photograph: Courtesy of the SIIS

Whereas individuals in China and all over the world are actively cooperating to fight the novel coronavirus pneumonia (COVID-19) outbreak, some US politicians and media are making accusations in opposition to China, questioning the effectiveness of its response to the epidemic. Nevertheless, the US sees frequent outbursts of influenza, and its authorities not solely reacts with extraordinarily low effectivity but in addition stays silent. The distinction has revealed a US double customary.

The US has a small authorities and a giant society. Its authorities barely reacts to points like influenza. In keeping with the US Facilities for Illness Management and Prevention, an estimated 35.5 million individuals contracted influenza in the course of the 2018-19 season and 34,200 deaths on account of influenza had been recorded.

The US federal authorities has neither the potential nor the ability to mobilize the whole nation to help particular person places, order lockdowns or require everybody to put on masks. Its epidemic management capabilities are poor. The US guarantees its residents private freedoms and democratic rights. It has no authorized foundation to intervene in its individuals’s conduct. The US as an alternative believes China is infringing upon particular person rights. Nevertheless, amid an epidemic, the US’ mindset shouldn’t be applicable as individuals’s lives and well being have turn into priorities. It appears that evidently these within the US accusing China aren’t seeing the larger image. Their views can not clarify an advanced scenario.

For the reason that central authorities first realized of the COVID-19 outbreak, it has taken measures to manage the unfold of an infection. Inside only one month, the scenario has been contained. The US has turned a blind eye to China’s pace and effectiveness in combating the virus. Developing a hospital inside per week, gathering assets nationwide and sending them to the epidemic’s epicenter are issues the US authorities, with its poor catastrophe aid capabilities, may by no means do.

COPYRIGHT_BP: Published on https://bingepost.com/flu-outbreak-reveals-us-true-colors/37287/ by Hilda Workman on 2020-02-20T14:19:01.000Z

Worldwide society will choose whether or not or not the US is certified to criticize China on this regard. The Chinese language authorities’s response to the virus outbreak must be evaluated by related our bodies just like the World Well being Group (WHO), quite than nations or people.

Many countries all over the world have been lending a serving to hand to China. Although US firms have offered help, restricted aid has been provided by the US authorities. Furthermore, US President Donald Trump is in search of to chop the US’ WHO funding by greater than 50 %. That has proven the US cares little not just for the security of its personal individuals, but in addition for the security of individuals all over the world. US politicians solely worth election ballots.

The US authorities’s public well being spending has been in decline. Trump has not solely abolished Obamacare, however has additionally lower the general public well being trade’s funds. It appears he would quite spend cash on protection and his border wall.

The US president may have declared a nationwide state of emergency to push by way of administrative measures to forestall the unfold of the epidemic within the US, however he didn’t as a public well being emergency is unlikely to win him ballots. The US’ response is politically pushed, serving solely people and curiosity teams.

Against this, China has mobilized its individuals and served them by preventing the COVID-19 outbreak. However China additionally has lesson to be taught: It should enhance its public well being protection mechanism and governance functionality. The nation ought to kind a daily power to chop prices and enhance effectivity.

The writer is a former financial and industrial counselor on the Chinese language Consulates Common in San Francisco and New York, and a senior analysis fellow of the Chongyang Institute for Monetary Research at Renmin College of China. bizopinion@globaltimes.com.cn

About The Authors

Hilda Workman - Hilda Workman is a licensed financial advisor with years of expertise in the industry. She has assisted a range of clients, from sole proprietors to large corporations, in reaching their financial objectives. She is informed about many different financial subjects, including tax preparation, investment planning and also in fashion. She believes that the best things are those that are imperfect.