Be cautious; Of 30 countries affected by Coronavirus, no case reported from Myanmar
- Imphal Times Editorial :: February 21 2020 -

Unofficial but convincing write-ups regarding the birth of novel coronavirus, which is killing thousands of people across the globe with the maximum casualty in China is noticed floated at many web portals.

As reported in the South China Morning Post, cases detected with coronavirus infection in 30 countries across the world are 75,725.

The death toll reaches 2,126 among which the number is 2,118 in Mainland China. 3 cases have been detected in India and most country affected by the virus in South East Asia.

The most human disaster of this kind is the product of human error, but at a time when the world particularly, when the most powerful Asiatic country is facing its worst time, joining hands to find a way out for fighting the killer virus is the need of the hour.

Criticism and blaming China for one reason or another is not timely and meaningful.

What we the people across the globe should know is that of the total 75,725 cases 16,233 infected people have been recovered.

This is an indication of the possibility of finding a cure that is affected by the dreaded virus.

What is worrisome for India is that among the 30 countries affected by the novel coronavirus Myanmar is not on the list.

Myanmar shares 1,624-kilometre of a porous border. The country is a friendly neighbor of India with a trade agreement signed and still going on.

Entry from Myanmar to India through Moreh town and up to 16 Kilometer inside Indian territory without a passport is permitted by the Indian authority.

The country Myanmar is also a friendly neighbor of China sharing as 2,129 kilometers borderline. Restriction of border trade is reportedly nil as Chinese dominates the market.

One may wonder why no affected person is reported from Myanmar which is an immediate neighbor. May be poor status od medical science in the country may have failed to recognize people affected by the virus.

Manipur, Nagaland and Mizoram government should take up immediate effective measures to put restrictions on cross border trade or entry until a solution to the virus is found.

Having said so, Manipur being facilitated with high-class medics should conduct camp inside Myanmar to find if the virus had reached the country or not on humanitarian ground.

Some world-class media reported about Chinese government policy towards media saying that a disclosure at the time of the outbreak of the virus through media could have to save a thousand lives.

Playing criticism in China over the coronavirus is not the right time. But joining hands to find a way is the need of the hour .