In The News

Back to Normal? MIT Technology Review

Gideon Lichfield March 19, 2020
COVID-19 moves around the globe, disrupting economies. Outbreaks could continue through August. To battle the disease, communities practice self-isolation. The goal: Prevent a rush on hospitals. Imperial College London researchers urge monitoring intensive-care unit admissions like the weather, relying on extreme social distancing measures when admissions are high and pulling back when those are...

Virus Outbreak Tests EU: New York Times

Steven Erlanger March 19, 2020
The abrupt coronavirus outbreak poses a tough test for the EU’s solidarity and democracy as well as its US alliance. Italy, where the outbreak is most severe, asked for aid from fellow EU members without success. Germany and France restricted the export of healthcare goods while Austria and the Czech Republic banned travelers from Italy. On the other hand, China immediately sent medical experts...

COVID-19 Tests World Image: New Statesman

Jeremy Cliffe March 18, 2020
Many nations view their citizens as resilient during times of crisis, capable of putting the best minds to work and and enduring sacrifices for the common good. The challenge during the COVID-19 crisis is convincing citizens to self-isolate, avoiding infections and overwhelming health systems – even as the cure imposes severe damage to local and national economies. “Around the world as in Britain...

COVID-19 Not Globalization Crisis: Financial Times

Robert Armstrong March 18, 2020
Global and community leaders most understand the nature of the COVID-19 crisis to develop effective strategies. The crisis calls for global cooperation rather than competition. People may pursue fewer person-to-person connections, but will still rely on global communications and data on best practices. “The virus has revealed the hidden costs and fragility of global supply chains, triggering a ‘...

Anxious About COVID-19? Yale Medicine

Colleen Moriarty March 17, 2020
COVID-19 emerged in November, soon spreading throughout China and the world, disrupting home and business routines. Citizens are naturally anxious about a disease that can be fatal for those over age 65 and others with compromised immune systems. People will do best to remain calm as they plan for disruptions that could last weeks or months, explains Yale Medicine infectious disease specialist...

Second Wave of COVID-19 Cases: WSJ

Liza Lin and Joyu Wang March 17, 2020
China reports a slowing of COVID-19 with strict quarantine measures. Singapore, Taiwan and Hong Kong, which share strong ties with China, reported infections early on, yet relied on less rigid measures and now report new waves of infections, assumed to be from incoming travelers. "We are not safe in any place until everyone all over the world is safe," explained Paul Anatharajah Tambyah...

COVID-19 Debt Deluge: Project Syndicate

Jayati Ghosh March 16, 2020
Crises immediately expose any weaknesses in public infrastructure, and COVID-19 will reveal needs in public health and economic systems. Societies realize that privatization and cost-cutting for health care for vulnerable populations expose all citizens to infection, explains Jayati Ghosh. Analysts anticipate a recession with supply chain disruptions and entire regions locked down. “A world...