Grandstand. Over the past few weeks, I have spoken to dozens of experts about Covid-19 and the facts clearly show that the disease does not affect everyone the same: it kills the elderly more than the young, the men than women and disproportionately affects the poorest. However, there is no data showing that the Covid-19 discriminates on the basis of nationality. The SARS-CoV-2 virus completely ignores borders.
I’m talking about this because since the world first discovered this virus in early January, governments have focused on their own national response: how do we protect people living on their land? Which is understandable. But faced with such a contagious and widespread virus, leaders must also understand that as long as SARS-CoV-2 is present somewhere, it affects us all.
A Manhattan hospital alone has more intensive care beds than most African countries have
Many low- and middle-income countries have not yet been hit hard by Covid-19. And we don’t yet know exactly why. What we do know is that the disease will eventually spread widely in these countries and that, without additional help, the number of cases and deaths will likely be greater than anything we have seen so far. Consider this: the Covid-19 has submerged cities like New York, but figures suggest that a Manhattan hospital alone has more intensive care beds than most African countries have. Millions of people could die.
Whether you live in a developing country or not, you can be affected. Even if rich countries manage to contain the disease in the coming months, Covid-19 could return if the pandemic continues to rage elsewhere. At one point or another, one part of the world will re-infect the other.
This is why we need a comprehensive approach to fight this disease. It will certainly have to be adapted as the pandemic evolves. But there are at least three steps that world leaders – especially those of the G20 – can take right now.
Effectively allocate global resources to fight this pandemic
The first is to ensure that the world’s resources to fight this pandemic are distributed efficiently: masks, gloves and screening tests. Ultimately, we hope there will be enough for everyone. But the global supply is limited, so we have to be far-sighted to make tough choices. This is unfortunately not what we systematically observe today.
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