Coronavirus: the surprising benefits of the epidemic

With more than 3,400 dead and 100,000 people infected in 91 countries around the world, the Covid-19 is causing a number of concerns. Against all expectations, the epidemic has a favorable impact in other areas.

Lower pollution in China

As the virus spreads, we breathe better in the Middle Kingdom. A paradox which is explained by the slowdown in industrial activities. Certainly, the Chinese New Year causes each year in the country a drop in the production of factories. But in this specific case, the decrease in emissions continues over time. Two spectacular photos, published on February 28 by NASA on Twitter, make it possible to visualize the drop in the level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) between January and February. "This is the first time I have seen such a dramatic drop in such a large area," said Fei Liu, air quality researcher at Nasa's Goddard Space Flight Center.

💊 Environment: #NASA confirms a dramatic fall in #pollution in #China since the spread of #coronavirus in the country. Nitrogen dioxide levels are very low. In #Wuhan, the air improved from 500 µmol / m2 in 2019 to 125 µmol / m2. # COVID19 (FrInfo) pic.twitter.com/O6YbO6hbsG

CO2 emissions in China have also decreased by a quarter in two weeks, according to a study published on February 19 on the British site Carbon Brief. Again, this is a consequence of the reduction in industrial activities and the limitation of Chinese travel by car and plane. Air traffic fell from 17,180 flights on January 22 to 3,243 flights on February 12, a drop of 70% in traffic compared to the previous month. Finally, the NGO "World Air Quality Index" in Beijing, for its part, recorded a drop in fine particle emissions in the country.

Exciting data that scientists and climatologists moderate however. "When the epidemic subsides, retaliation pollution is likely to occur, with factories maximizing production to compensate for their losses after their prolonged closure," said Li Shuo, spokesperson for Greenpeace China.

The suspended pangolins

Pangolins also breathe better. But it's not just about air quality. Before the coronavirus epidemic, the shelled pholidote was highly prized by the Chinese for its flesh, accompanying the most refined dishes. Its scales made the fortune of the medicine merchants. The keratin of its shell was also used to cure pell-mell libido problems, blood circulation, pararion or cancer. However, in 2017, the Chinese authorities banned its marketing. In vain. The traffic continued. According to the NGO Traffic, 900,000 pangolins from Africa were sold on the black market in Southeast Asia between 2010 and 2019. The animal has since been on the red list of threatened species, drawn up by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN).

In Abidjan, the Ivorian authorities have cremated more than 3.5 tonnes of #pangolin scales, the most poached mammal in the world. Much sought after for Chinese medicine, the scales had been seized during the dismantling of an international #trafic.😡https: //t.co/z3CzSymtla

However, since Chinese scientists initially accused this ant eater of acting as intermediaries in the transmission of the virus, the small mammal has suppressed the appetite of its greatest enthusiasts. Good news for this species which is among the most poached in the world.

Protected wildlife in China

Bats, snakes, civet and salamanders can also blow. On Monday February 24, Beijing decided to extend the marketing ban to all wild animals. The standing committee of the Chinese parliament has in fact approved this proposal aimed at "abolishing the bad habit of consuming too much wild animals and effectively protecting the health and life of the population," state television CCTV reported.

Recognizing "the significant problem of excessive consumption of wild animals and the great hidden dangers to public health and safety", Beijing therefore decided to strike hard.

Alas, the same ban had already been taken during the SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) crisis in 2002-2003. And quickly, the weakness of the Chinese for wild animals was right with the ban. But the return of a new virus could this time change mentalities and practices.

Flu in decline thanks to barrier gestures

The last bulletin of Public Health France, published on March 4, is formal: "the influenza activity is in decrease in the majority of the regions in metropolis". Admittedly, the virus continues to circulate in all regions, but the hardest part seems to have passed. Ile-de-France is the first region to have passed the "post-epidemic" stage, according to health authorities.

💊 The flu finally recedes! The number of cases has halved in one week. The gastro remains moderate. = >> https://t.co/zGWZOvpds0 pic.twitter.com/XR5px3PY2n

It also appears that the 2019-2020 epidemic was less virulent than that of the previous two years. A weak progression of the disease which can be explained this year by a better observation of the "barrier gestures" of the French faced with the risk of coronavirus. "It is very likely that the fact of washing your hands often, as we are doing at the moment, contributes to this," admitted Dr. Serge Smadja, director of SOS Doctors in Paris, in an article by Le Parisien. Good news when you know that the flu epidemic killed 8,000 people in France in 2018-2019.

Relocation envisaged

The coronavirus has acted as an electric shock for many European business leaders. Put in difficulty because of the slowdown in supply from China, some of them have realized the interest of shortening production chains to avoid financial losses, and consider relocation.

This is particularly the case for the pharmaceutical industries which are particularly dependent on Beijing. "There is an urgent need to reduce our dependence on these countries and to restore our health sovereignty, in particular for essential drugs such as antibiotics or anticancer drugs," said Marie-Christine Belleville, member of the Académie de We must create the conditions for relocation to Europe. " Relocations in our regions could create jobs in Europe and lower the carbon impact of logistics transport.

The return of soap in schools

Washing hands with soap and water frequently to protect yourself from Covid-19, recommends the World Health Organization. Problem, in many French establishments, there was no soap in the toilets. More generally, seven out of ten schools are said to be affected by health problems. The situation is not new. The National Council for the Evaluation of the School System (Cnesco) already denounced, in 2017, serious shortcomings in this area: 72% of the colleges had degraded premises while 62% were not supplied with hygienic products (paper, soap. ..), according to Cnesco. Since then, it seems that the authorities have taken the subject seriously. "We must take up this subject head on," launched the Minister of Education, Jean-Michel Blanquer, on LCI. He assured to work with the rectorates and the Association of the mayors of France (AMF) so that there is "a particular vigilance, in particular on the soap".

Lower gas prices at the pump

Let motorists and manufacturers rejoice: the price of gasoline has dropped. As the price of oil continues to sink, Friday, March 6, in London and New York, the prices of road fuels sold in French service stations have stagnated or fallen last week, according to data from the Ministry of Ecological and united transition.

The decrease is related to the coronavirus. The spread of the epidemic is causing concern, markets are collapsing and so is the price of oil. The price at the pump is already being felt for French drivers forced to take their car daily.

The France 24 week summary invites you to come back to the news that marked the week

Download the app