By Bernard Rowan
Since my column a month or so ago, the coronavirus pandemic has spread to global proportions. Many nations, including South Korea and the United States, are grappling with this virulent strain. Many have died. Many more have contracted the disease. I'd like to comment on some of the good practices South Korea has followed in combatting this disease.
Just after the disease took hold in China, reports began to appear of cases in Japan, South Korea and other Asian nations. South Korean authorities quickly ramped up screening, which has saved many lives, and to tackle the thorny matter of enforcing quarantines for those who've may have contracted the coronavirus. The Korea Times has recorded many of the other good practices used by Korean authorities and the people of Korea. These include a quick and systematic response, a focus on outbreak clusters (such as the Shincheonji Church), and swift mobilization of health facilities, diagnostic labs and related entities.
The size and population of South Korea is smaller, but that's an advantage. High tech information has helped track private movements and patterns of transmission by governmental authorities, according to a report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Interestingly, South Korea has yet to order wide-scale "social distancing" and sheltering protocols.
One of the distinguishing features of this pandemic is its spread via international travel. I think the world has much to learn about the importance of borders and the need to assure public health through screenings for air and cruise travel. We need 21st century screening technologies, and not just for guns and bombs.
A second feature noted by several media reports is the groups suffering aren't the same in all countries. It seems that different regions have different groups with underlying conditions that create a "better environment" for this coronavirus to threaten life. Older males who smoke in Italy, young women in South Korea, and younger adults in the United States. This subject deserves much further analysis for insights on how our normal lives impact the spread of pandemics.
A third feature is the renewed sense of governments' importance as agents for human safety and security. We're familiar with military and police forces for combatting criminals, terrorists and state enemies. Less often do we think of "a war" as needing the mobilization of national, provincial and local civilian forces. We also depend on our political leaders now more than ever, like it or not! Government isn't evil, but if one claims that view, it's necessary. Think of how many more would die without functioning national, provincial, state, and local governments and their employees.
A fourth is "social distancing" and limiting groups to ten or less as a principal means of combatting the illness. Large cities, states, and nations have shut down education, commerce, entertainment, dine-in restaurants, and public travel operations. This is a necessary but not sufficient gambit to combat and contain the pandemic.
Finally, and much underestimated, is the cooperation between nations. The Chinese authorities have shared their lab specimens and strains of the virus with researchers in other countries. It's urgent to speed the development of a vaccine, and then to study means of transmission to learn all we can from this killer. I would like to see the G's (7, 8, 20 or howsoever) meet ― remotely and regularly ― and announce a world initiative.
May the people of South Korea continue to work together to beat this deadly virus. May the same happen in all countries.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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Just after the disease took hold in China, reports began to appear of cases in Japan, South Korea and other Asian nations. South Korean authorities quickly ramped up screening, which has saved many lives, and to tackle the thorny matter of enforcing quarantines for those who've may have contracted the coronavirus. The Korea Times has recorded many of the other good practices used by Korean authorities and the people of Korea. These include a quick and systematic response, a focus on outbreak clusters (such as the Shincheonji Church), and swift mobilization of health facilities, diagnostic labs and related entities.
The size and population of South Korea is smaller, but that's an advantage. High tech information has helped track private movements and patterns of transmission by governmental authorities, according to a report by the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Interestingly, South Korea has yet to order wide-scale "social distancing" and sheltering protocols.
One of the distinguishing features of this pandemic is its spread via international travel. I think the world has much to learn about the importance of borders and the need to assure public health through screenings for air and cruise travel. We need 21st century screening technologies, and not just for guns and bombs.
A second feature noted by several media reports is the groups suffering aren't the same in all countries. It seems that different regions have different groups with underlying conditions that create a "better environment" for this coronavirus to threaten life. Older males who smoke in Italy, young women in South Korea, and younger adults in the United States. This subject deserves much further analysis for insights on how our normal lives impact the spread of pandemics.
A third feature is the renewed sense of governments' importance as agents for human safety and security. We're familiar with military and police forces for combatting criminals, terrorists and state enemies. Less often do we think of "a war" as needing the mobilization of national, provincial and local civilian forces. We also depend on our political leaders now more than ever, like it or not! Government isn't evil, but if one claims that view, it's necessary. Think of how many more would die without functioning national, provincial, state, and local governments and their employees.
A fourth is "social distancing" and limiting groups to ten or less as a principal means of combatting the illness. Large cities, states, and nations have shut down education, commerce, entertainment, dine-in restaurants, and public travel operations. This is a necessary but not sufficient gambit to combat and contain the pandemic.
Finally, and much underestimated, is the cooperation between nations. The Chinese authorities have shared their lab specimens and strains of the virus with researchers in other countries. It's urgent to speed the development of a vaccine, and then to study means of transmission to learn all we can from this killer. I would like to see the G's (7, 8, 20 or howsoever) meet ― remotely and regularly ― and announce a world initiative.
May the people of South Korea continue to work together to beat this deadly virus. May the same happen in all countries.
Bernard Rowan (browan10@yahoo.com) is associate provost for contract administration and professor of political science at Chicago State University. He is a past fellow of the Korea Foundation and former visiting professor at Hanyang University.
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