Dialogika

THIS EPISODE IS ABOUT AN ONGOING NEWS STORY — WE RECORDED THE EPISODE ON TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 4TH.

Also, we are obviously not health professionals or medical experts. If you have any medical questions about the Novel Coronavirus, please reach out to your nearest medical facility and/or professional.

In this episode, we’ll be discussing the 2019-nCoV, also known (for now) as the Novel Coronavirus, that’s been plaguing China and the rest of the world early this year. First discovered in the city of Wuhan, as of February 4th there has been more than 24,000 confirmed cases in China alone and more than 450 fatalities globally. The coronavirus is a respiratory illness that’s similar to both SARS and MERS and has been declared a global health emergency by the WHO. Currently China has placed Wuhan under quarantine and many countries around the world have evacuated and quarantined their citizens from Wuhan as well as placed travel bans on anyone who’s been in China recently. We break down what the coronavirus is and the global reaction to the outbreak, which has led to reports of anti-Chinese racism and anti-Asian prejudice across parts of the world.

Finally, we speak briefly about the situation in Indonesia, where more than 200 Indonesian citizens from Wuhan were evacuated and currently placed under quarantine in Natuna Island, which led to protests by the local residents who did not want them there, The tensions around this issue raises an important question, not just for Indonesia but for all of us around the world: how do we deal with this outbreak in a humane and empathetic way, without succumbing to fear, paranoia, and xenophobia?

Thanks for listening!

For those interested in learning more about the topic, we’ve provided links to resources as well as other recommended readings.

Novel coronavirus (2019-nCoV) — courtesy of the World Health Organization

Coronavirus declared global health emergency by WHO — courtesy of the BBC

Coronavirus: All you need to know about symptoms and risks — courtesy of Al-Jazeera

Coronavirus quarantine precautions around the world — courtesy of the Guardian

How to protect yourself from coronavirus — courtesy of the Guardian

Is UK overreacting to coronavirus crisis by telling citizens to leave China? — courtesy of the Guardian

Coronavirus: French Asians hit back at racism with ‘I’m not a virus’ — courtesy of the BBC

Coronavirus: Window of opportunity to act, World Health Organization says — courtesy of the BBC

Disquiet in Indonesia’s Natuna over use of island as quarantine site amid coronavirus outbreak — courtesy of Channel News Asia

‘They’re our brothers and sisters’: Jokowi asks for understanding for Wuhan evacuees quarantined in Natuna — courtesy of The Jakarta Post

 

 

 

MUSIC CREDITS:

SOUL HIGH by RYAN LITTLE

MONTMARTRE by JAHZAAR

NIGHT OWL and THE GREAT by BROKE FOR FREE