THIS is how the debate on how to react to the coronavirus disease 2019 (Covid-19) is framed in much of social and regular media. With the exception of the United States and perhaps Brazil where it has unfortunately been polarized into an either-or situation, all governments are grasping with how to address both simultaneously. Now let me initially lay the premise, regardless of location and one’s political view — I do not think any government anywhere is undertaking the painful and restrictive steps it has imposed out of popularity or some warped sense of sadism.

They are sincerely responding to a difficult, vexing and unprecedented crisis that, even worse, is global in scope. Unlike in economic crises of the past, we cannot rely on one region to help out the weaker one (for example Asia was less affected than the West in 2008, and the West was not affected directly by the Asian crisis in 1997) or localized or regional pandemics (Ebola, swine flu).  This is a global pandemic and economic crisis, both very severe and unprecedented in scope and speed. So, let us cut our government some slack and unlike others, I actually praise its willingness to adapt and change course even if it seems haphazard as I would rather have a government that understands it is adapting to a situation and has the humility and flexibility to reverse course rather than have an attitude that I will lose face or seem weak if I alter my position. Something we saw enough of previously.

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