Page 18 - Berita Sunway - Issue 69

COVID-19 FEATURES
KEEPING

HOPE ALIVE

IN TRYING TIMES

Even with a pandemic at large, there are reasons to be hopeful for the future

ith a daily influx of media reports that more than 7 million confirmed
COVID-19 cases worldwide and over 402,000 have succumbed to the
Wcoronavirus as of early June, it is easy to despair and be anxious about
what the future holds for everyone, especially when many are still living in lockdown
or some form of enforced isolation.
less than one, compared to three at the start of the pandemic.
Prior to the pandemic, people already had many reasons to lose hope – news Countries like New Zealand has been declared free of COVID-19
about worsening climate change, never-ending wars, the after discharging the last patient with no new active cases.
growing divide of inequality and poverty as well as
racial intolerance are among the many issues that Boyd also notes that in less than six months, we now
highlight the ugliness of humanity and its ability Keeping hope alive know so much more about this
as a species to self-destruct. entails playing our part to new disease, have methods to control infections,
and can keep COVID-19 under control even
However, as pointed out by the United protect ourselves and other people without a vaccine.
Nations Development Programme, the from getting the disease. We should strictly
current pandemic can also be a defining adhere to prevention guidelines recommended The flattening of the curve in many
moment where the world pushes back nations has been attributed to social
against fear, and turn instead towards by the Ministry of Health, as well as the WHO distancing, and while it continues to
hope, solidarity and a shared sense of (such as good hygiene practices, social distancing be a challenge to stay home and stay
global community. and putting on face masks) that help to minimise apart from one another, the scale of the
COVID-19 transmission rates. These measures, no global response to COVID-19 is still a
REASONS FOR HOPE matter how inconveniencing they may appear, are noteworthy achievement. Majority of
people the world over has been united
In an article published by the World key to winning the coronavirus in their response towards the pandemic,
Economic Forum’s COVID Action disease fight. demonstrating that humankind can
Platform, Ian Boyd, a professor of biology tackle big problems when there is a
at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, In the words of Lilian Dodzo, common goal and the will to do so.
highlighted reasons to be hopeful for the the National Director for NGO World Vision
future amidst COVID-19. in Kenya GLOBAL TOGETHERNESS AND
SHARED RESPONSIBILITY
Firstly, he points out that COVID-19 is under
control and in decline in many countries, with many United Nations secretary-general Antonio Guterres said
governments reporting a lower virus reproductive number that amid public fear and growing uncertainty surrounding
(R0) – the average number of people infected by someone – of the pandemic, “more than ever before, we need solidarity, hope
and the political will to see this crisis through together.”
Amid the lockdowns, there were signs of hope and solidarity as
people came together to help fight the pandemic, and having
experienced forced isolations for prolonged periods, there is
now a stronger desire and appreciation for togetherness.
As the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) points
out, it is this spirit of global togetherness that gives us hope.
“In this time of crisis, we are all neighbours in the world, and
success will only be achieved when all people, in all countries,
are protected.”
Hopefully, this shared sense of responsibility that has emerged
during the pandemic will continue in the days to come if the
world is to win the COVID-19 fight in the long run.

18 | BERITA SUNWAY | JUL—SEP 2020