Across the world, lockdown rules are being flouted but we must try to rally

Don’t be afraid of Covid-19, says Donald Trump, standing outside the White House, still contagious and not wearing a mask.

In the video posted to his Twitter account on Monday evening, the US president appears to boast about the coronavirus risks he took to “lead” the country, without mentioning the linked cluster of Covid-19 cases among White House aides, journalists and senators.

Neither does he mention the extraordinary treatment he benefited from, which most citizens could never hope to receive: he was medevacked to a VIP suite at Walter Reed Medical Centre, where dozens of medics administered experimental drugs not available on the market.

“Don’t let [the coronavirus] dominate; don’t let it take over your lives,” Trump concludes, claiming he has not felt better in 20 years.

Unsurprisingly, healthcare experts have been scathing. Dr Sadiya Khan of Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine called it an “unconscionable message”, warning that it might precipitate or worsen the spread. Dr David Nace of University of Pittsburgh Medical Centre remarked that most people are not so lucky, and that “Covid is a complete threat to the American population”.

Trump’s nonchalant messaging comes at a terrible time. Much of the world is at least seven months into this gruelling pandemic and barely limping through second lockdowns with no vaccine on the horizon.

In Lebanon, where I live, we are in our fifth lockdown, but you would barely know it. The authorities are struggling to enforce the rules, as people are too tired, too broke and too hungry to stay home even though the battered health system is overwhelmed. Across the world, from the US to Australia, rules have been flouted, and anti-lockdown protests have been held. In the UK last week, the mayor of Middlesbrough said he was prepared to defy restrictions set by the government.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) warned today of significant increases in apathy across Europe about Covid-19. The global body said that data taken from 27 countries shows that, in many places, 60 per cent of the population is fatigued by restrictions.

The slide towards giving up is dangerous as we head into the winter months, when colds, flus and other viruses abound – when so many of us are more at risk.

The WHO’s regional director for Europe, Dr Hans Kluge, called for “a courageous approach, with empathy at its core” to fight this.  

The dangers are very much still there. Despite the hardship, we must all try to rally and get through this. It is a task being made all the harder by a US president unwilling to play by, let alone obey, the rules.

Yours,

Bel Trew

Middle East and north Africa correspondent