COVID-19 & Lockdown-the Bad and the Ugly
Everything that happens under the sun has a positive and negative effect and the experience you have depends on the prevailing conditions around you.
Despite being a global crisis which has caused wanton devastation across the entire world, the deadly coronavirus can be said to have its pros and cons if critically analyzed.
Since its emergence late last year at Wuhan in China, the fearful disease has spread nearly to every country in the world and killed some 177,424 people and infected more than 2.5 million with 681,842 recoveries made recently, according to data compiled by John Hopkins University.
The approach adopted globally has predominately been a partial lockdown of all sectors of the economy with the exception of essential services.
The imposition of ban on all public gatherings like conferences, funerals, festivals political rallies, church services including Islamic worships which began in Ghana on Monday March 16, 2020 was the first call of action from President Nana Akufo-Addo to all Ghanaians as a measure to stem down the virus.
The deadly coronavirus is combination of ‘the good, the bad and the ugly’ if you ask me.
Mirroring first from the angle of bad, it is obvious to know that the impact on health, economy, businesses, education, politics and food and agriculture by the novel coronavirus have been a hard hit and the consequences quite alarming.
Talking about health, one cannot dispute the unprecedented human and health crisis brought upon many lives in Ghana and other parts of the world due to the effects of the global pandemic. From the widespread concern, fear and stress which dominates and accompanied by mental trauma right from the health risks posed to the lives of people as well as the financial burden on health facilities across the world.
Another ‘social evil’ which is a bane to controlling the pandemic is stigmatization which reared its ugly head in the world and contributed to more severe health problems and ongoing transmission among others. Since the emergence of COVID-19, we have witnessed stigmatization among specific populations, and the rise of harmful stereotypes.
The advent of the global pandemic has crippled many businesses resulting to a huge loss of revenues which further necessitated many layoffs within the shortest period of time.
For some experts, the economic downturn triggered was could be due to the necessary measures put in place to contain the virus. A BBC’S recent online report dated April 7, 2020 pointed out that four out of five people’s jobs was hit by the pandemic. According to the report, which was compiled based on the research conducted by the International Labour Organization (ILO), a total of 81% of the global workforce of 3.3 billion people have had their workplace fully or partly closed. It further noted: “Restrictions on daily life have led to the closure of many companies and the laying off of staff either permanently or temporarily”. “Workers and businesses are facing catastrophe, in both developed and developing economies”, said ILO director general Guy Ryder.
The latest Global Financial Stability Report indicates that the financial system has already felt a dramatic impact, and a further intensification of the crisis could affect global financial stability. From all indication, it is obvious to know that the significant adverse impact on the global economy have been a major problem which has compelled governments around the world to implement various fiscal measures to mitigate the effects and provide relief for businesses and households.
Ghana as a developing country is not an exception to the challenges posed to the economy due to the effects of the global pandemic resulting to huge revenue losses and layoffs of staff by companies and businesses alike across different parts of the world.
In his statement to the Parliament of Ghana on the topic: “Economic Impact of COVID-19 pandemic on the Economy of Ghana dated March 30, 2020, Ghana’s Finance Minister, Ken Ofori-Atta outlined that Ghana is expected to suffer a revenue shortfall of up to GHC2.2 billion (about $377 million) as a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
According to him, this is as a result of “the anticipated decline in import volumes and values, as well as the slowdown in economic activities. According to him, this is as a result of “the anticipated decline in import volumes and values, as well as the slowdown in economic activities.
He further noted that there will be a significant hit on the country’s non-oil revenue due to the pandemic.
There is no doubt we are currently living in hard times as a result of the COVID-19 which poses threat to our population, not only for its risk to human life and ensuing economic distress, but also for its invisible emotional strain.
Recent days have seen sharpest economic pullback in modern history and a record-breaking spike in unemployment.
It is inevitable that that the global pandemic, compounded by financial crisis, will have material impact on the behavioral health of society. At this point, there is a great uncertainty about its severity and length.
Another aspect of the some of the bad things we’ve been experiencing during this era of the outbreak of COVID-19 in other words, the “social evil” has been due to the adherence to WHO’s standard recommendations and the lockdown restrictions outlined by head of states and presidents of various countries across the world.
For example, the ban on public gatherings like conferences, funerals, festivals political rallies, church services including Islamic worships among others, remaining behind closed doors without going to work, as well as the observance of the social distancing protocols made it difficult for people to socialize as normal. You can bet that, with this development, the desires of party goers and fun lovers will be crushed.
People who lost their loved ones will be sitting on tenterhooks without conducting them a befitting burial until further notice. Recently, even though the ban has been lifted on funerals there’s a restriction that not more than twenty-five people are allowed at a funeral ground. This is indeed ‘wicked’ and denial of people who may want to wish their loved ones a good bye on their last day on earth.
The compliance to the above measures actually limits the freedom of movements and association of people which is a violation of their fundamental human rights.
Although the measures put in place were geared towards containing the spread of the novel coronavirus in the country, some deemed it harsh since it became a barrier to socialization as well as sparks stigmatization.
This is not just a typical Ghanaian case but a global phenomenon also becoming a barrier to the fight against the pandemic.
Source: Joseph Kobla Wemakor