Days ago, the U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, on a visit to Jamaica, cautioned the island against taking “easy money” from China, warning it could be counterproductive.
Now it turns out that China’s “easy money” should be the least of Jamaica’s problems. Jamaica is constantly letting in Chinese businessmen and women into the country without any kind of medical evaluations. If this practice continues, the country is running the risk of introducing the coronavirus to the people of Jamaica.
While Jamaica has reaped great benefits from Chinese investments, especially the new roads; government might want to consider tightening the rules. Therefore, make it mandatory for anyone traveling to Jamaica from China to first undergo a thorough medical examination.
Currently Jamaica is having a difficult time dealing with the sick; where the average wait time in emergency rooms across the island is six hours. There are also times when there is not enough beds in the hospitals to accommodate all the sick. So dealing with a virus outbreak would be almost impossible.
The new strain, 2019-nCoV, has the potential to infect anyone.
“Novel viruses spread much faster because we have no immunity,” Professor Neil Ferguson, from Imperial College London, said.
China’s National Health Commission announced the youngest victim to date was 48 and the eldest 89.
Most were elderly and suffering other health issues, like Parkinson’s or diabetes, it added.
2019-nCoV is thought to be the seventh strain within the coronavirus class that can infect people.
Others include the mild common cold and the life-threatening severe acute respiratory syndrome (Sars).
These tend to only trigger serious complications – like pneumonia or bronchitis – in the elderly, young or those with pre-existing medical conditions.