The epidemic is on the decline. I myself saw this on the charts. As predicted by people who understand the matter, the turning point occurred in mid-February. Since then, the number of new cases per day has been steadily decreasing. The number of people who have recovered is growing (which, incidentally, is understandable, because this is simply a function of the number of cases earlier).
However, as they say, this sun is not pleasing to a simple Parisian (Roman, Milanese - substitute what is needed). Coals of panic flare up in Europe. Close the fashion show and the La Scala theater. Overlap railway connections between Austria and Italy. Football matches are canceled, supermarkets are emptied. We are talking about the suspension of the Schengen agreement! The director of the World Health Organization says a pandemic is coming. World markets first fall, then rebound, then fall again - in general, nothing good happens. And only the bad happens.
What is the matter? After all, all these fears, it would seem, contradict the objective picture of the world. In which just everything is getting better.
However, here the question is precisely in this very picture. More precisely - in its projection on our perception. We know very little about what was happening in the closed city of Wuhan. Well, that is, they told us, of course, about some military men, showed empty counters and streets. It's like that. But this is somewhere far away. They also constantly tell us about Uighur camps, but do these stories touch us? No, they don’t touch us. We don’t even know where it is. Also, daily terrorist attacks in Baghdad do not touch us. The bombing in Syria. The criminal war in Mexico. Melting glaciers in Antarctica. And I’m not talking about the fact that we are some insensitive ghouls, concentrated on ourselves. No, this selectivity of perception is inherent in us by nature. And precisely because of this selective perception, even those shots and stories from Wuhan (almost 12 million people, by the way!) Do not make any impression on us. Fly through the head without leaving sediment. And so we can’t assess: but what is we now witnessing in Europe - is this really a panic? Or is this no panic compared to what it was in China?
The first conclusion that comes to mind (that in China everything is strict and the authorities there cope, and in Europe they can’t cope with the mess) can well be erroneous. Although it seems to be obvious to us.
Well, really, who, if not us, should know that in times of large-scale crises (let us recall at least the crisis with migrants several years ago) Europe ceases to be united and each national government begins to introduce its own rules. And everyone is forgetting about the impotent and meaningless European Commission. In addition (and this is most important), the extent of the spread of the virus for making such national decisions is not important at all. And two cases of infection in any Croatia for the government of this same Croatia become equal to 80 thousand cases of infection in China.
Pandemic - it is not in the number of infected. Pandemic - it is in the number of countries covered. Even if in each of these countries two are infected.
Well, do not forget, of course, in a democracy. The Chinese authorities are responsible for their country to the authorities and the party. So it is arranged there. The authorities of most European countries are responsible for their actions to their voters. Feel what is called the difference. That is why, even in one or two cases, the authorities of most European countries will make statements and at least somehow show their own activity in the fight against the disease.
For the voter to see. The voter will see - and this will only increase the panic of the voter. Because if the authorities are concerned, then it means a serious matter. As early as Saturday, February 22, I was in Rome and did not observe the slightest signs of concern there. Already on Monday in Moscow, I read about how shops are being emptied in Italy. Why? Yes, because the authorities began to act.
Now, in fact, the question arises: what to do in such a situation to an adequate person who understands the general world order? Well, the best thing, of course, is to hide in the forest and wait. No, do not wait out the epidemic. And the inconveniences associated with it, which will certainly be provided by less adequate people. The most obvious example of what will certainly be provided is the story of medical masks. About which only a lazy doctor did not say that they did not help protect against infection. But they bought up all over the world, depriving them of those whom they might really need.
For those who do not have a suitable forest - the usual advice. Do not twitch and do nothing. Because if you twitch and take action, it means that you fall into general panic. And strengthen it. At the same time bringing closer the unchanging death of the universe.
The virus is degrading. Markets will grow. The store shelves will be filled again, and the medical mask will again cost as much as it should cost. And journalists around the world will again think about why they should start the morning news.
Because coronavirus incidence reports will no longer be.
The author’s point of view may not coincide with the position of the publisher.