For the first time in over half a decade, SAARC members came together on Sunday to pledge cooperation and collaboration to fight the effects of the global outbreak of Covid-19.
With South Asia home to about one-fourth of the world population, coupled with the poor state of the region’s public health infrastructure, a large-scale outbreak of the disease could be devastating. In view of this, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday had called upon the leadership of all SAARC nations to chalk out a strong strategy to deal with Covid-19.
All heads of state, except for Prime Minister Imran Khan of Pakistan, participated in a video conference to share the status of the spread of disease in their countries and the measures they’ve undertaken to control and prevent further spread of the disease. Pakistan was represented by its health minister.
In his introductory address, Modi pointed out that India, which has so far reported the largest number of infections in South Asia, has been taking proactive steps to control the disease.
“India has started training medical staff, increasing the diagnostic capabilities of medical centres, and put in place protocols to manage the pandemic,” said Modi, “Rigorous screening, the establishment of quarantine centres and self-isolation have been advised to the general public.”
Modi also proposed the establishment of a Covid-19 emergency fund with voluntary contributions from member states to fight the pandemic. India offered $10 million for the fund, saying that any member state could avail of the funds.
“Rapid response teams of doctors and specialists with testing kits and other equipment are on standby and at your disposal,” said Modi.
India is also ready to organise online training for emergency response teams from across the region to work through an integrated disease surveillance portal, he said.
Modi also proposed using existing SAARC facilities, including the Disaster Management Centre, as a common platform to coordinate research on controlling epidemics within the South Asian region.
“The Indian Council of Medical Research can offer help coordinating such an exercise,” he said.
Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, who was recently discharged from hospital following a kidney transplant, also presented the preventive measures that Nepal is taking to prevent Covid-19 outbreak, including the temporary halt to on-arrival tourist visas, an end to all spring mountaineering expeditions, including Everest ascents, and a halt to the issuance of labour permits.
Oli too professed his willingness to work with Modi and other SAARC countries in dealing with the pandemic and its consequences, not just on health but also on economy.
President Ibrahim Mohamed Solih of the Maldives pointed out the massive impact of Covid-19 on the nation’s tourism, which is one of the major contributors to the country’s GDP.
“The Maldives is facing revenue and foreign currency shortfalls,” said Solih, “SAARC nations will also feel the downturn of the tourism industry in the Maldives.”
Like the Maldives, Nepal’s economy is also largely dependent on the tourism sector. And the government’s decision on Thursday to suspend all on-arrival visas and mountaineering expeditions is expected to put around 20,000 tour, trekking and mountain guides out of job.
The ongoing Covid-19 outbreak had already led to cancellations in hotel and travel bookings since February but the decision has now sounded the death knell for Nepal’s spring tourism season, the most lucrative time of the year for the travel and tourism industry.
The hardest-hit sector will be Everest, where an entire economy, consisting of climbing guides, porters, hotels and lodges, subsists on spring mountaineering.
Afghanistan’s President Ashraf Ghani pointed out that the greatest challenge that Saarc member states face is the open borders. Ghani proposed providing medicines to poor and vulnerable groups, controlling the flow of people at border points and coordination with China’s Shanghai Cooperation Organisation.
Nepal has also taken measures to put a check on the flow of people entering the country from neighbouring India and China, with whom it shares 129 land crossing points. In a bid to screen people, the Ministry of Health and Population is preparing to set up health desks at 41 busy crossing points in view of the outbreak.
Bhutanese Prime Minister Lotay Tshering, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Sri Lanka President Gotabaya Rajapaksa and Pakistan’s Minister of State for National Health Services Regulations and Coordination Zafar Mirza also presented their nation’s status regarding the coronavirus outbreak.
The proposal mooted by Modi on Friday raised hopes for reviving the ailing bloc a number of leaders from Afghanistan, Bhutan, Nepal, the Maldives and Sri Lanka, quickly responded to the call, hailing it as positive and terming it as an opportunity to resuscitate the stalled SAARC process.
While others including some analysts were more circumspect given the Indian prime minister’s past actions regarding the regional bloc.
Frequently asked questions about the coronavirus outbreak
UPDATED as of September 22, 2020
What is Covid-19? Covid-19, short for coronavirus disease, is an illness caused by the coronavirus SARS-CoV-2, short for severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2. Common symptoms of the disease include fever, dry cough, fatigue, shortness of breath and breathing difficulties. In severe cases, the infection can cause pneumonia, severe acute respiratory syndrome, kidney failure and even death.
How contagious is Covid-19? Covid-19 can spread easily from person to person, especially in enclosed spaces. The virus can travel through the air in respiratory droplets produced when a sick person breathes, talks, coughs or sneezes. As the virus can also survive on plastic and steel surfaces for up to 72 hours and on cardboard for up to 24 hours, any contact with such surfaces can also spread the virus. Symptoms take between two to 14 days to appear, during which time the carrier is believed to be contagious.
Where did the virus come from? The virus was first identified in Wuhan, China in late December. The coronavirus is a large family of viruses that is responsible for everything from the common cold to Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). After an initial outbreak in Wuhan that spread across Hubei province, eventually infecting over 80,000 and killing more than 3,000, new infection rates in mainland China have dropped. However, the disease has since spread across the world at an alarming rate.
What is the current status of Covid-19?
The World Health Organisation has called the ongoing outbreak a “pandemic” and urged countries across the world to take precautionary measures. Covid-19 has spread to 213 countries and territoriesaround the world and infected more than 31,405,983 people with 967,505 deaths and 22,990,260 recoveries. In South Asia, India has reported the highest number of infections at 5,557,573 with 88,943 deaths. While Pakistan has reported 306,304 confirmed cases with 6,420 deaths. Nepal has so far reported 65,276 cases with 427 deaths.
How dangerous is the disease?
The mortality rate for Covid-19 is estimated to be 3.6 percent, but new studies have put the rate slightly higher at 5.7 percent. Although Covid-19 is not too dangerous to young healthy people, older individuals and those with immune-compromised systems are at greater risk of death. People with chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease, or those who’ve recently undergone serious medical procedures, are also at risk.
How do I keep myself safe? The WHO advises that the most important thing you can do is wash your hands frequently with soap and water for at least 20 seconds or use hand sanitizers with at least 60 percent alcohol content. Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unclean hands. Clean and disinfect frequently used surfaces like your computers and phones. Avoid large crowds of people. Seek medical attention if symptoms persist for longer than a few days.
Is it time to panic?
No. The government has imposed a lockdown to limit the spread of the virus. There is no need to begin stockpiling food, cooking gas or hand sanitizers. However, it is always prudent to take sensible precautions like the ones identified above.
Samuel Chhetri is an online reporter for The Kathmandu Post, covering a wide range of issues, including politics, society, sports, arts and entertainment.
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