{"id":209672,"date":"2020-04-21T00:00:41","date_gmt":"2020-04-20T18:30:41","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/?p=209672"},"modified":"2020-04-23T14:14:19","modified_gmt":"2020-04-23T08:44:19","slug":"coronavirus-its-origin-source-spread","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.colombotelegraph.com\/index.php\/coronavirus-its-origin-source-spread\/","title":{"rendered":"Coronavirus & Its Origin, Source & Spread"},"content":{"rendered":"

By A. Sivapathasundaram –<\/strong><\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a>

A. Sivapathasundaram<\/p><\/div>\n

Tentacles of Corona Virus<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The \u201cCorona Virus\u201d \u2013 name initially given to the virus when it started and then re-named \u201cCovid-19\u201d\u2014 first striking in Wuhan, capital of Hubei province in China, in December last year, has now brought the whole world to its knees.<\/p>\n

The virus has spread its poisonous and destructive tentacles around 209 countries and regions around the world. It is reported that as at April 18, 2020, around the world, 1, 527, 486 people have become infected, 579,190 recovered, 154,726 died, and 57,086\u00a0 <\/span>in critical condition. The numbers continue to rise at a terrifying speed. We have an unprecedented situation where countries and cities have closed their borders; people have been ordered to stay at home. Economies are floundering catastrophically and the livelihoods of many millions are being destroyed.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Questions in the Minds of People<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

It is but natural, and in fact inevitable, that ordinary people all over the world are confused and angry too. They want to know what has happened and who or what really is the cause of it all. Many theories are being floated on them. It is said by certain quarters that it is not the time to discuss about this, everyone should focus on how to contain the virus , the priority is to save lives, and that discussions about it would only detract from the issues of solving the crisis.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

True, the States, the Governments and the Authorities should primarily concentrate on how to face this contagion and contain it, while also mitigate the sufferings of the people for whose welfare they have the ultimate responsibility. No doubt, all citizens and individuals should necessarily follow and obey the various restrictions imposed on them by their respective governments and ensure compliance.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

However, it cannot be helped, if the minds of the individuals thrown into isolation from their families, kith and kin, neighbours and the community, livelihoods destroyed\u00a0 <\/span>and many with an uncertain economic future,\u00a0 <\/span>while also unreservedly falling in line with the restrictions placed by their respective governments would inevitably ask the questions: How did all this happen?; What is its origin, source?; How did it spread? –Individuals cannot help thinking about it or questioning about it. –I am one of those individuals.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

All of us are searching for answers except those who wants to bury the truth or detract it. Some of those who sanctimoniously suggest that all should focus on facing the issues and getting out of it are surreptitiously planting stories to distort the actual origin, source and spread of this horrible virus.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

China\u2019s Diplomatic Offensive<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

China and its President Xi Jinpeng have launched a pre-emptive diplomatic offensive to ward off any accusations or blames on them by asking people, organisations and governments to desist from using the term \u201c China virus\u201d and that it is wrong and defamatory. As long as there is no racial overtones or racism, one would ask why it should not be called \u201cChina Virus” —because it is simply and logically that:<\/b> a product with origin and source in China. Why cannot one call \u201ca spade, a spade\u201d and be afraid to call \u201ca spade, a spade\u201d and asked not to call \u201ca spade, a spade\u201d<\/p>\n

By China\u2019s own admission, the source is a meat market in Wuhan, which also sells wild animals that include snakes, bats, pangolins etc , from where it spread to other countries. Now, because of its enormous afflictions and adverse intensity world-wide, China, its authorities and the media under the control and influence of China are, directly and indirectly, trying to detract and divert even implying that it was unleashed by the USA military. It should not be misconstrued by this that I condone USA or \u201chold candles\u201d for it. because I consider them too as \u201cvillains\u201d — but not in this episode. If we had called some of the early viruses as \u201cSpanish flu\u201d and \u201cMiddle East flu\u201d, why not now \u201cChinese virus\u201d or \u201cChina virus\u201d? Should China be allowed to put up sanctimonious face and act, unquestioned with no accountability?\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

China is now also acting like a country of generosity and concern for the people of the world by exporting face masks, test kits, ventilators etc, thus camouflaging their failure and misinformation. Its motives in its aid offer are driven by what is dubbed the \u201cface mask diplomacy\u201d. The very party which caused to inflict severe, grievous, bleeding wounds is generously offering bandages to cover them.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Wuhan Institute of Virology<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

One may venture to state that the origin and source cannot be just from the wild animals since the Chinese have been eating them for many years. Not many people may know, in China\u2019s Wuhan province, there is what is known as \u201cWuhan Institute of Virology\u201d. It is an Institute purportedly for research on various viruses that affect human beings. I tend to believe that in that Institute (there are such Institutes in other major countries too) they have been also developing and testing viruses for use as biological warfare weapons. Something has gone wrong there\u2014either accidentally or because of some unintended negligence in the safety protocols adopted or even some errant employees walking out of the Institute and spreading the virus unknowingly. It is confirmed that the Chinese government was aware of the existence of the virus in December 2019 because we know that Li Wenliang, a doctor in Wuhan, has sounded an early alarm on the novel coronavirus and had warned about it. He was accused of \u201cspreading rumours online\u201d, suppressed, arrested, and silenced; and now China says he had died of the virus. Knowing the system in China, he may have even been killed. It is reported that the Chinese government has recently honoured him as \u201ca martyr\u201d. Covid-19 is a bio-chemical weapon leaked from laboratories in Wuhan\u2014and as such it is a virus \u201cmade in China\u201d.<\/p>\n

China\u2019s Duplicity<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

I would also say that intentionally China did not inform the world in time\u2014with perhaps a calculated purpose: \u201c it\u2019s going to bring China down; it might as well bring other countries down too, so that we will be at the same playing field levels; and, with the our system of autocratic governance we can gear up to get up first before others and have a control of the playing fields to ourselves\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The people cannot but suspect that China has intentionally allowed the virus to spread to other countries by pitting up a front that everything is normal and allowing millions of Chinese people to move in and out of China to various countries, which is adduced to be the single most reason for the virus to spread world-wide. People from China continued to travel in and out of many countries in large numbers from November\/ December 2019\u2014for which those countries are paying an exorbitant human and economic price.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

We now hear of a race to acquire protective gear, ventilators and other much needed goods from China, where factories are churning out these supplies. Among the help that China has supplied are said to be medical resources that include personnel.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

China should apologise to the rest of the world. On the contrary, it is reported that China\u2019s President Xi Jinpeng in a phone call to the British Prime Minister had offered to \u201cenhance coordination with Britain to help to minimise the risk of the epidemic\u2019s spread while ensuring necessary flow of people and trade\u201d. He had called on all nations to \u201cpush forward cooperation to enhance the sharing of information and experience, boost collaboration in scientific research\u201d and, lo and behold, not surprisingly, to \u201csafeguard and keep global supply chain\u00a0 <\/span>open, stable and safe\u201d This clearly shows what has China has always been aiming for:\u2013a flow of people (read people from China) and trade (favourable to them) and supply chain (read China\u2019s supply chain). It is with the \u201cflow of people\u201d that China managed to bring down not only Britain but all the other countries too! Until a few months ago, the US was halting trade with China, imposing barriers and tariffs, adversely denting China\u2019s economy. US also kicked out US- based Chinese scientists. Right on cue and according to its agenda, China had got up first and is in a position with relatively no significant damage to make use of and control the shattered economy and share market of the world. \u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Happy Ending for China<\/b><\/span><\/p>\n

The politicians and journalists of the democratic countries affected by the virus are accusing their own of \u201cidiotic bureaucratism, indifferent leadership and endless blunders\u201d; but no accusing finger is raised on China or demand accountability from China. No blame whatsoever is placed on China but only heaps of praise.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

No remorse, no apologies, no accountability by China; and the world continues to suffer with economic repercussions that is shaking the global economy, life and livelihoods\u2014effects of which will in all probability, last for a very long time.<\/p>\n

It is China who will probably have a happy ending and gains resulting from this global pandemic.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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