Deadly dilemma

Coronavirus has gripped the whole world badly with its rapidly spreading horror and death without showing signs of declining (“US declares coronavirus emergency; House passes aid package,” March 14, Gulf Today).

It is the first time in the history of the world that there is no difference between the rich and poor when it comes to the case of coronavirus.

For example, a person who is the president of the only superpower country in the world is equally worried about the deadly coronavirus as the ordinary person whose identity nobody knows.

In this materialistic world where everything is being weighed in terms of colour, language, religion and wealth, where each part of the world serves its own interest, coronavirus forced them to forget about differences, conflicts and work together for the safety of human beings.

President Trump on Friday declared the coronavirus pandemic a national emergency, freeing up money and resources to fight the outbreak, and then threw his support behind an aid package in Congress that is on track to provide direct relief to Americans. From the Rose Garden, Trump said, “I am officially declaring a national emergency,” unleashing as much as $50 billion for state and local governments to respond to the crisis.

Wall Street stocks rallied on Friday as financial markets endured a rollercoaster ride after a week of spectacular losses triggered by fears that the deadly outbreak will lead to a global recession.”

The overall death toll jumped to more than 5,000, including nearly 1,500 in Europe, with total infections topping 140,000 internationally, according to an AFP tally based on official sources.

It is need of the hour for the world to work together to counter the coronavirus, it is also important to develop a vaccination for coronavirus.

Special prayers should be organised all over the world to ask mercy from the creator of this world, God Almighty. Coronavirus is a wake-up call for everyone that we should not have differences with each other and work together for humankind.

Sultan Shah
By email