{"id":8004,"date":"2020-04-16T20:49:00","date_gmt":"2020-04-16T19:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/cassandravoices.com\/?p=8004"},"modified":"2020-04-16T20:49:00","modified_gmt":"2020-04-16T19:49:00","slug":"underlying-conditions-exacerbate-covid-19-pandemic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/casswp.eutonom.eu\/index.php\/2020\/04\/16\/underlying-conditions-exacerbate-covid-19-pandemic\/","title":{"rendered":"Underlying Conditions Exacerbate Covid-19 Pandemic"},"content":{"rendered":"

Pressing Pause<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n

In the grip of serious illness anyone but an obtuse contrarian seeks medical assistance. As the coronavirus Covid-19 pandemic sweeps across the globe, doctors are performing heroics, often at grave risks to their own health. Enhanced screening, testing and emergency treatment facilities, along with developing a vaccine, are now paramount considerations; but we cannot ignore our underlying fragilities.<\/p>\n

Exclusive focus on the Holy Grail of an elusive cure disregards how the virus is exploiting poverty in wealthy countries, flawed public health policies and destructive environmental practices. At least we may still soften the blow of this outbreak, and reduce the harm and incidence of future episodes. With all changed \u2013 changed utterly \u2013 returning to business-as-usual is inconceivable.<\/p>\n

Despite what we hear from the Trump administration<\/a><\/span>,[i]<\/a> there are no specific medicines<\/a><\/span> available to prevent or treat the new coronavirus Covid-19.[ii]<\/a> The best estimate is that a year-and-a-half is the minimum time required<\/a><\/span> to develop a reliable vaccine, which would actually set a record.[iii]<\/a> Remarkably, a British-Italian partnership claims it will have one ready as soon as this September<\/a><\/span>, but the challenge of manufacturing, distributing and mass-immunization \u2013 including the thorny issue of consent \u2013 on an unprecedented global scale, remain.[iv]<\/a> The options are comprehensively laid out by medicinal chemist Derek Lowe<\/span>.[v]<\/a><\/p>\n

The dangers posed by this outbreak, and future ones that nature will throw at us, require a thorough reappraisal of public health priorities. Medical systems in advanced Western countries \u2013 especially those dominated by the private sector \u2013 tend to prioritise treatment of the symptoms of the main non-contagious diseases. We \u2018live\u2019 with cancer and heart disease as opposed to addressing multifarious lifestyle causes, which the virus is now preying on.<\/p>\n

As Boris Johnson\u2019s predicament underlines, anyone is susceptible to Covid-19, but chances of exposure \u2013 without recklessly ignoring medical advice \u2013 are often determined by social class, which intersects with lower life expectancy already.<\/p>\n

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"I was at a hospital the other night where I think there were actually a few coronavirus patients and I shook hands with everyone."<\/p>\n

Boris Johnson says he has not refused to shake hands with people during the #COVID19<\/a> outbreak.<\/p>\n

More on this story here: https:\/\/t.co\/6N1ZLNKpvT<\/a> pic.twitter.com\/yV1qkQkDkh<\/a><\/p>\n

— Sky News (@SkyNews) March 3, 2020<\/a><\/p><\/blockquote>\n