Coronavirus: This is no the time for politicking

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Wednesday took a major step in classifying Covid-19, the Coronavirus a pandemic.

A situation that was already scary, got the label most fear. The disease can be found in most countries as the case with over 118,000 cases in 114 countries as of the time of the announcement.

While, again, the respiratory disease is new and little is known of it, WHO has set out guidelines for protecting oneself and others from infection. This includes washing hands, not standing too close to people who might be infected and more.

The response to maks sure infections did not spread has seen football leagues such as Serie A, La Liga and more suspending matches to contain or prevent outbreaks.

In Zimbabwe, there still has been no case. That being so, the fact South Africa has got infections confirmed, it has resulted in a response from the region. The Southern African Development Community has called on all its countries to be in response mode.

With us all being in response mode, this means that the focus has to be on preventing an outbreak. Of course, in Zimbabwe, most things default to political parties and positions but this is the worst time for that.

As it stands, both sides of the divide need to be focusing on making sure the disease does not get here. This is at communal, ward, council, district, provincial and national level. When and if it lands, it won’t be asking for any political cards. In the global north, ministers, actors, sportsperson, millionaires as well as the poor have caught it. Given its indiscriminate nature, this is an opportunity for all hands on deck and national push to make sure it does not get here.

The biggest hurdle is going to be education. There is so much misinformation out there and much needs to be done to make sure people have access to the right information.

It will not matter who is right or wrong when people start dying. The window of opportunity is closing fast.