After being criticized for a slow response to SARS, China is once again facing global scrutiny for its handling of the new coronavirus.
By the time the global SARS outbreak was contained, the virus spread to over 8,000 people worldwide and killed almost 800.
The new coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, which causes the disease COVID-19, has already surpassed the 2003 SARS outbreak.
When the whole world had gone into lockdown, the UK decided to do a herd immunity strategy.
The UK was criticized by the world over and how risky that Strategy was. No doubt about it.
Even the Chinese Experts were not happy with how the UK was dealing with the situation. What people do not realize is that there are some Cultural Issues that make the UK a completely different nation.
Let's Compare it with Other Countries in the world
1. Self-imposed Self Isolation: When every day in this country people behave like other people walking around as if it is 28 Days Later or Walking Dead. In the UK, most people are already living in Isolation. People usually do not talk to each other rather freely, they do not wish anyone "Good Day" or " Have a nice day!" or do not stand and loiter like some people from Asians Countries. Some more liberal countries like Brazil or France would be kissing on the cheeks whereas in the UK people do not. It happens but it isn't a common greeting.
It is very common when one person is on one side of the road and when they see another they would move away on the other side of the road.
People in the UK wouldn't die more with Coronavirus but definitely due to Boredom, Mental Health, and Isolation.
2. Civic Sense: I hate to say this but in some countries, people would spit on the road, and throw things on the road, Toilets are hard to find or if any they are dirty.
Even without Corona Virus Cafes and Restaurants are expected to clean it every 2 hours or at least check them. This has increased to every hour plus cleaning of handles, gates and surfaces.
Even per capita, the UK has more toilets than some of these big Asian Countries like India and China.
It is UK law that if you are serving food you should have Toilet facilities. In the London UK also have cases of people pissing on the road and they have night toilets for these drunk people.
Most people in the UK are very Self-responsible and Independent.
3. Gradual Shutdown v/s Severe Shutdown: The UK went to a gradual shutdown rather than a severe lockdown immediately. Some might argue it might be too late.
1) The UK asked people not to go to Hospitals and GP Services - This helped them not to overwhelm their NHS hospitals and systems.
2) Medical Professionals and Boris Johnson ask people to do hand washing and sing Happy Birthday!
3) The government asked Older People above 70 to stay at home, Diabetic and Asthma Patients.
4) The government asked Sporting Events to be Open as they were going for herd immunity.
5) The government asked people to Work From Home if you can do your work from home.
6) The government next asked people not to go to the Pub, Restaurants, and Gyms. Wetherspoons was open. The Herd Immunity strategy was discontinued because cases were high in numbers.
7) The cinema closes on its own
8) The government only closed schools on 20/03/2020.
9) Supermarkets advise people to only buy 3 items of the same thing thus stopping panic buying.
10) The UK can turn it around in 12 weeks.
11) The government officially asked on 20/03/2020 for the following to stop working.
-Food & drink venues
-Pubs, bars and clubs
-Cinemas, theatres, concert and bingo halls
-Spas, indoor leisure and gyms
-Casinos & betting shops
-Museums & galleries
12) Supermarkets have open hours for the elderly and vulnerable in the morning.
13) The UK is going to now further lockdown.
Criticism 1: Sporting Events being not cancelled: All Men in the UK love their Football and also are very passionate about their Football Clubs. The government didn't want to anger that segment.
BUT
In the UK all big events were being cancelled even before the Government officials had asked to cancel. No Football match was left to see.
Criticism 2: Old people at Pubs and Wetherspoons: Old people who didn't have anywhere to go in their day-to-day life still went to Wetherspoons. Maybe some people in their 40s and 50s still went out but might be looking old because of their drinking habits.
Criticism 3: Why are Schools closed so late?
Many people criticized why schools were closed so late when offices were asked to close and GP services were working minimum.
Schools that had coronavirus had already shut down their school.
Many Teenagers weren't sure whether to study or not and became confused and didn't want to take their exams. This has been sorted by exams being cancelled.
Number 1 reason is that Childcare in the UK is very much dependent on the outsider. In countries like China and India, some might have grandparents' support or even neighbour's support. Childcare is solely dependent on outsiders like Nanny, Aupair, Childminder, Babysitter, Nursery or School.
I also believe that there would be more deaths of husband, wife, and children if they were to spend lots of time together and also have stressed to earn money.
Number 2 In some countries like China where we hear that children are left on their own while parents work. This would have been completely not done in the UK where child abuse is treated extremely seriously. Where little bit of problem is reported by Childline.
Number 3 Some of the parents were working on very special jobs like in Hospital, Education and Police. Today when schools are closed they are on the basis where parents working in those sorts of jobs their children would be still sent to school so that their parents can work and help the country.
Number 4 UK is a highly ambitious and economically driven Country. People are measured on their ability to make money. Where women are asked to work or at least feel pressured to make money as soon as they have given birth. Where Maternity Leave has increased in my generation. There is absolutely no value given to Stay at Home or Work At Home Mums.
Number 5 Taking care of children is a thankless job in the UK. It is very hard to cope in the UK as there are only parents taking care of them. There is no monetary value in raising your child. Men do not feel that they should be providing for their Wives and Kids. People have only recently started being ok with taking a little break and taking care of their children because they have got some support from the Government. How people would pay their rent and bills is being sorted especially by Rishi Sunak currently as I write this TV is buzzing with all the people wanting to acquire Benefits and Salaries.
I believe that school has been opened until they can and are being closed on the right day.
Now it is to see how long people can work at home with their kids without killing each other.
Criticism 4: UK Border had no extra checking like India.
As before the UK already have extremely strict Border Control. They already have that in a place where in the UK people come it is paperless. There is a chip on the passport - it has your photo and biometrics. Also, the amount of people coming to India is any day larger than coming to the UK.
As far as I see the UK is always in Self Quarantine all the time!
What good has happened is that people have started Volunteering and Offering help to each other.
The biggest question is Do I agree with it all?
I actually for one think that all the Global World Leaders are doing their best.
The less we criticize better it is. Let people get on doing the right things and keep an eye on the BIG Picture!
Appreciate what we had when people in Wuhan or even Beijing were questioning whether they were going to be alive. We were busy thinking about where are we going for a Holiday.
