A recent spike in Coronavirus infections in China prompted more alarm, more lockdowns, and more coverage.
A change in the way health officials report new infection cases makes the situation seem even more dangerous. The latest numbers, coupled with reports that some cities enacted extreme measures by banning residents from leaving their homes, worry government officials throughout Asia.
Official quarantine response aimed to prevent new infections, yet new infections continue to surface. To ease stigma associated with the illness, the World Health Organization this week named it COVID-19. It stands for Coronavirus disease 2019.
The worst part of this outbreak is that COVID-19 carries so many unknowns. Trans World Radio global content officer Jon Fugler says, “We speak hope to the world, and here is an opportunity to do that. There is a lot of fear. People have uncertainty. They’re wondering, ‘how can I keep from getting this? Is it going to spread into my family?’”
The threat of the virus is unnerving, and so is the economic impact on those closest to the outbreak. Financial experts like Moody’s Analytics and Barclays say the epidemic will have a substantial effect on China’s GDP growth, and likely the world economy. The World Bank released a study estimating that a severe pandemic could trigger a near .3% drop in global GDP.
SOURCE: Mission Network News, R.B. Klama
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