Novel Coronavirus is a blinking Red for Northern Hemisphere
Posted on 22 Feb 2020; 3:00PM IST. Last Updated: 22 Feb 2020; 3:00PM IST.Summary: This article describes the danger posed by the novel coronavirus (Covid-19), for the countries in the Northern Hemisphere.
The Chinese CDC has recently released a report on the Epidemiological Characteristics of an Outbreak of 2019 Novel Coronavirus Diseases (COVID-19) in China. The report is available at this website.
The report describes (in Figure-2), the spread of COVID-19 in China, from December 31, 2019 thru February 11, 2020. The figure clearly shows, the spread of the virus, from almost nothing in Wuhan (a city of China), to half of China, in just 42 days or 6 weeks.
Now comes the most important discussion.
Will China or its neighbours in Southern Hemisphere be seriously affected, by this virus? The answer is a big "NO". It is therefore little wonder, that the Chinese President is highly confident of a quick recovery, irrespective of whether a drug or vaccine is found or not found.
The reason is simple. The 2020 Summer has started in the Southern Hemisphere. The temperatures (in India), are already beginning to hit 30 degree centigrade or 86 degrees fahrenheit, and they will quickly raise to roasting 45 degrees centigrade or 113 degrees fahrenheit. So, the virus has little or no chance of spreading in India, Middle East, Africa, or surviving in China, to cause a prolonged effect.
The Northern Hemisphere, which is still in the midst of winter, needs to take greatest precautions, and ensure that the virus does not spread. The chinese complaints that USA panicked, are plain rubbish. So are the comments of many scientists, who did not understand the seriousness of this disease. The Chinese CDC report clearly describes, the impending danger, with ample statistics.
The next three months is highly critical for the countries in the Northern Hemisphere, as these countries are going to live in an environment, where the virus can easily thrive, and spread. In other words, the scenario of longest possible exposure, without medicines, will be borne by countries, in the Northern Hemisphere.
The old English proverb "Prevention is better than Cure", sounds most appropriate, for the novel coronavirus (Covid-19).