AS EFFORTS REDOUBLE TO CONTAIN AND CONTROL,RUSS SWAN WONDERS IF IT IS WAY TOO LATE TO DO ANYTHING ABOUT COVID-19-PERHAPS THE BEST MOVE IS TO SEEK IT OUT...

摘要

Watching from a safe distance,it has to he said that efforts to contain the novel corona virus COVID-19 have been little short of a shambles.The result is that we are on the brink of a historic pandemic,and it might be time for an unconventional and even distasteful response.Initial reports of the virus were suppressed by the Chinese state,in a move which has been broadly criticised elsewhere.It's certainly true that an earlier alert would have made containment more manageable,and perhaps even possible.But,had the first cases occurred in any other country,it s unlikely the outcome would have been any different.The monolithic bureaucracy of the Chinese state may have led to initial delays,was also frighteningly efficient at issuing orders to its population,building new facilities,and enforcing the rules.Would any other country have been able to mobilise such resources so quickly?