Pandemic: an Invisible Enemy

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Special Edition April 2020

Courtesy of Martin Sanchez (Unsplash). From the Editor A Note to the Reader STEPHANIE MILLER Editor-in-Chief On behalf of our Editorial Board, I am pleased to present the first-ever Special Edition of The Diplomatic Envoy. JARRETT DANG Managing Editor As the world finds itself engulfed in a crisis unlike any in modern history, this April we chose to focus on delving into the HARSHANA GHOORHOO stories that matter most to the global community as it moves International News Editor forward in the coming months. This edition explores the hearts of issues pertaining to the field of international health, from JUDY KOREN threats facing vulnerable populations and economic security to Opinion Editor emergency ethics and environmental integrity. JUNGIN KIM Associate Editor For the past month, The Envoy’s editorial board has worked with a select group of our most dedicated staff writers whose CASEY HATCHIMONJI locations and ideas stretch across borders now more than ever Web Editor before. It is our privilege to showcase the contributions of both our editors and our staff, and we welcome the opportunity to TIEN PHAN continue The Diplomatic Envoy’s proud tradition even in this Layout Editor time of transition. DR. COURTNEY SMITH Stephanie Miller, Faculty Adviser EDITOR-IN-CHIEF

CONTRIBUTORS

Ali H. Aljarrah This publication is made possible through the generosity of the Axel Songerath Constance J. Milstein, Esq., Endowed Fund. Daniela Maquera The views expressed inThe Diplomatic Envoy are those of the writers and are not intended Joaquin Matamis to represent the views of the School of Diplomacy, Seton Hall Uni- Megan Gawron versity, or the CJM Fund. Natalie Sherman For more information on sources, go to blogs.shu.edu/thediplo- maticenvoy Courtesy of Flickr. table of contents

Flattening the Curve: Pandemic Response and the East-West Dichotomy...... 2

Misinformation and the Rise of the “Infodemic”....5

Government Interventions, Public Health Respons- es, and the Economics of Pandemics...... 8

Vulnerable Populations: COVID-19 and the Risk of Leaving Developing States Behind...... 11

COVID-19 and Emergency Ethics: A New Dimen- sion of Medical and Political Response...... 14

“Wake-Up Call”: How the Coronavirus Can Impact Climate Change...... 18 Flattening the Curve: Pandemic Response and the East-West Dichotomy Daniela Maquera Staff Writer

Courtesy of Fran Boloni (Unsplash). 2 When China announced that its two- According to The Lancet, once the ge- month lockdown, border shutdown, netic sequences for COVID-19 were and intense police surveillance had published, Hong Kong, Japan, and lowered the country’s rising number of Singapore all developed their own tests coronavirus cases, it shocked the world. for the virus and ramped up produc- Many western countries did not think tion of necessary materials. However, it possible to imitate China’s methods: according to a New York Times re- many called them draconian and looked port, despite the almost-flat curves of elsewhere. However, in Asia, Singa- Hong Kong, Singapore, and Taiwan, pore, Hong Kong, and Taiwan took a occasional spikes imply they remain at different approach. Recalling lessons risk. All eyes now turn to South Ko- learned from the aftermath of the 2002 rea – the only country besides Chi- SARS outbreak, despite their close na to successfully flatten their curve. links to mainland China, they chose In a single week, South Korea to sacrifice that relationship for health halved its number of cases with no and cut ties with the virus’ source. draconian restrictions or lockdowns. Many states considered their mea- Instead, the country engaged in wide- sures extreme. Even when the WHO spread testing, contact tracing, and did not consider “travel bans” neces- rallied critical support from citizens, sary, these three regions had already a design that minimizes the risk of restricted passengers coming from the contagion to health workers. These mainland. According to Time, their separate centers spared hospitals and strategy cost trade and tourism reve- clinics from being overwhelmed. nue coming from China. However, in Although the fear of resurgence the long-run, their proactive prevention remains, the remaining lesson is that has made them the almost-certain win- there is no time to waste – action must ners in the fight to contain COVID-19. be taken now. Sadly, countries with Putting aside these countries’ differ- stunning numbers of new cases, such ent regimes, the open and honest in- as Italy, Spain, and the United States, teraction of government officials and have moved on to a new reality that

health experts with citizens has led to limits which measures they can em- Courtesy of Rawpixel. clarity. Through effective communi- ulate from these Eastern countries. cation and free testing, governments As experts argue whether this health continue to alleviate the civilian eco- crisis demands a wartime-like response, nomic and health burden. Singapore more European countries continue to tests every case of influenza-like ill- lock down their borders. Rather than ness and tracked contacts of possibly acting in unison, The New York Times infected patients. Taiwan combined states, each country is closing its bor- its national health care and immigra- ders: Germany, France, and Britain all tion databases to generate automat- banned gatherings and deployed po- ed travel alerts. South Korea and Ja- lice officers to keep citizens home as pan both adopted measures of strict slow testing exacerbates hospital re- social distancing once the spread source depletion. The Atlantic says began. According to Wired, these that Italy published a guideline for countries used prior experience with doctors calling for extreme triage mea- outbreaks to build health systems with sures: intensive care is limited to pa- strong countermeasures and activated tients with the highest life expectancy. them “before the bomb exploded.” Epidemiologists say that not much Strict surveillance plays a big role can be done without early and wide- in containing the number of cases in spread testing. The New York Times these Asian countries, although the states that inconsistent testing has led main driver of their effective response to a patchwork response to the crisis

is the rapid development of testing. in Europe and the U.S. Unlike South Courtesy of Flickr. 3 Courtesy of Brian McGowan (Unsplash). Korea and Singapore, most Europe- an countries face shortages of testing chemicals and thus limited testing avail- ability. Fearing an economic downturn, Europe did not close businesses and must now take even stricter measures. The U.S. is living an even worse reality. With the highest recorded death rate of any country, the government struggles to define its strategic plan, their dilemma lying between prioritizing the economy or civilians’ health. Although Congress’s two trillion dollar emergency spending bill promises to deliver cash to individual Americans, businesses, and health care facilities reeling from the pandemic, the Washington Post notes that this will not stop travel or contain the virus. In stalling action plans, the U.S. ignores Europe’s hard-learned lesson: failing to accept the severity of the virus and act accordingly can cost lives. American testing remains limited and costly, according to The Atlan- tic, limiting access even to healthcare workers who are in direct contact with patients. Crippled international supply chains short the country’s medical professionals of crucial access to protective medical equipment. Combined with the country’s unwillingness to shut down businesses, America could very well see a projected death toll of up to 2.2 million. Although the world has not faced such fearsome pandemic in 100 years, past outbreaks helped better prepare Asian countries for the COVID-19 outbreak. By choosing short-run economic losses over massive deaths and “Each country is closing its bor- panic, in the long run, they have kept a ders: Germany, France, and Britain all relative-flat curve of coronavirus cases. banned gatherings and deployed police Because Europe and the United States’ officers tokeep citizens home as slow failure to establish equivalent early warning systems, these countries will be testing exacerbates hospital resource placed on the frontline of a battle with- depletion.” out adequate resources, forced to wage a war with no end in immediate sight. - The New York Times Contact Daniela at daniela.maquera@ student.shu.edu

Courtesy of Rawpixel. 4 Misinformation and the Rise of the “Infodemic” Joaquin Matamis Staff Writer

5 Courtesy of Brian McGowan (Unsplash). Since COVID-19 first entered the work of health officials. For ex- the collective consciousness of me- ample, the repetition of media false- dia and society, people far and wide hoods establishes a level of familiarity continue to spread all information between consumers and inaccurate they can gather on the virus. Unfor- information. As NBC's Ruaridh Ar- tunately, whether maliciously intended row reports, some companies resort or not, this has led to the widespread to false advertising and upselling tox- dissemination of misinformation on ic chemical to make a profit. Chloro- a viral scale. The fear and paranoia quine, a drug for malaria, is not prov- Courtesy of Flickr. around the globe indicate not only en to work against COVID-19 and its the dangers of the viral pandem- phosphate equivalent is toxic to hu- The fear and paranoia ic but a worldwide “infodemic”. mans, used in aquariums to treat fish. Dr. Claire Wardle, a leading ex- However, this has not stopped con- indicate not only the pert in the field of social media and sumers from purchasing the chemical dangers of the viral user-generated content, states in an and experimenting with self-treatment. pandemic but a world- Aspen Institute webinar that this “in- Similarly, hearsay typically domi- wide “infodemic”. fodemic” has taken shape in a couple nates Facebook and Whatsapp, as un- of trends worldwide. For one, most wary people fall victim to mass gossip. of the viral content that has been Whether it comes from “friends” of spread assuredly contains some truth government officials or “relatives” regarding COVID-19. Secondly, she of health workers, mass rumors have notes that information has traveled only added more confusion and un- most popularly in closed and semi- certainty to the COVID-19 narra- closed social spaces. These can take the tive. Data analysts on social media form of small groups like fam- have several international similarities ily and relatives, coworkers, and in the types of misinformation being friends to larger groups like those disseminated. Stories about “local” on Facebook, Twitter, Whatsapp, and outbreaks, home treatments, and di- similar platforms. Combined, these agnoses share similar patterns in dif- two factors create a dangerous en- ferent languages, suggesting there are Courtesy of Brian McGowan (Unsplash). vironment that warps the validi- dedicated groups maliciously spread- ty and accuracy of information. ing rumors internationally. Most im- These developments Misinformation on COVID-19 pen- portantly, the spread of rumors and point to a more danger- etrates all topics on the virus, from misinformation has incited levels of disinformation (deliberately harm- mass panic that poses a great danger ous precedent of supply ful information) on the virus’s or- to society. Most media outlets like shortages, not only in igins to misinformation about the Time have covered the numerous toilet paper, but in med- virus’s spread, symptoms, and treat- “toilet paper epidemics” worldwide, icine, masks, and other ments. Stories range from Chinese which initially seem humorous. How- material essential to biological weapons programs to in- ever, these developments point to a health workers. tentionally spread by the U.S. military more dangerous precedent of supply and even Bill Gates’ involvement in shortages, not only in toilet paper, but pharmaceutical production as a front in medicine, masks, and other mate- for surveillance and profit. As tensions rials essential to health workers. The grow among different state actors, peo- financial world has equally been shak- ple question the politics of pandem- en up by COVID-19 developments, ics, sowing doubt behind the efficacy inciting similar panic in would-be of official actions and government investors and average people. Par- agendas, according to The Economist. ticularly provocative disinformation Misinformation also affects both so- has upset the stock market already cial and economic behaviors. These vi- but can also influence runs on bank ral campaigns utilize a number of psy- and questionable financial decisions chological “backfire effects”, clouding across the board, as CNN predicts. Courtesy of Clay Banks (Unsplash). the truth from society and inhibiting So, two questions remain: How

Courtesy of Brian McGowan (Unsplash). 6 can professionals and officials with the everyday media consumer. Dr. different issues, people should be care- the right insights convey their infor- Wardle unapologetically calls us “liz- ful to fact-check alongside reliable and mation without being drowned out ard-brained”, meaning individuals val- officially published data first before by ubiquitous media? And similarly, ue data that is concise, digestible, and sharing. Nevertheless, there can be how can one properly inform them- often in infographic form. Govern- some reassurance knowing that there selves during this time of social isola- ment and health officials should strive are kernels of truth to everything and tion without experiencing the pitfalls to create content and data that is eas- piecing them together is the first step of mis- and disinfor- ily readable and readily to becoming informed. Recognizing mation? The reason “Despite the exis- available for the com- that knowledge is power, we can do why misinformation tence of dependeable mon person. If author- our part in fighting against this infodem- and groups with spe- ities can assert them- ic and the COVID-19 pandemic overall. cific agendas, like the research, correct selves on social media anti-vaxxer move- information often and more relatable Contact Joaquin at joaquin.maquera@ ment, are so suc- platforms, people can student.shu.edu cessful is because of struggles to come be more informed and provocative, yet easily to light because of restore their faith in understandable con- status quo research. tent. Memes that up lengthy, medical jar- Yet these stan- to play or downplay gon-ridden reports, dards should also be the virus – or even which are hard to ac- met on the consumer colorful graphics that side of things. When seem to disprove cess for the every day looking at published well-known facts – are media consumers.” data, whether formal- more likely to make ly in scientific research an impact on read- or informally through ers. Despite the existence of depend- different sources of media, people able research, correct information of- should be aware of underlying facts, ten struggles to come to light because different sources of information, and of lengthy, medical jargon-ridden the pitfalls of psychological backfire reports, which are hard to access for effects. When spreading awareness for

7 Courtesy of Brian McGowan (Unsplash). Courtesy of Alec Favale (Unsplash).

Government Interventions, Public Health Responses, and the Economics of Pandemics Ali H. Aljarrah Staff Writer 7 8 As the world hits over a million to- ments across the world overwhelmingly tal confirmed cases of COVID-19, the responded to the COVID-19 outbreak world economy remains in a comatose with NPI implementation, results dif- state due to government mitigation fer based on response times. Within policies designed to slow the infection the first three weeks after the outbreak rate of the virus, reports Johns Hop- in China, the countries of Japan, South kins’ Coronavirus Resource Center. In a Korea, and the United States confirmed March 27 interview with CNBC, Interna- their first cases of COVID-19.- How tional Monetary Fund Managing Direc- ever, South Korea and Japan saw lower tor Kristalina Georgieva announced the infection rates compared to the United global economy entered a recession due States, which began NPI implementation to COVID-19. A previous Morgan Stan- much later than the east Asian countries. ley report predicted a “deeper recession, Governments taking measures to but not depression” in 2020, placing minimize interaction simultaneously global growth estimates at 0.3 percent. rush to prevent a depression-level eco- Courtesy of Kian Zhang (Unsplash). COVID-19 is the first nomic crisis. Unfortunately, pandemic to wreak havoc the reality of a globalized, on the global economic economically interdepen- system in recent memo- In the last 100 dent world means the NPI 0.3% ry, but it is not the first in implementation is not al- estimates global history. The 1918 H1N1 years, the world ways feasible, especially in economic growth, “Spanish flu” pandemic has not experi- developing countries. The predicted a “deeper was the last virus to cause Council on Foreign Rela- a major interruption to enced a pandem- tions estimates the total recession” the international econo- price tag of COVID-19 to my. A March 2020 Fed- ic that ravanged be $10 trillion globally, a eral Reserve study found and disrupted price that developing coun- “The future of that areas affected by tries have not historically Spanish flu in the United life more than been able to pay. The 2002 world econo- States saw a “sharp and SARS outbreak in China re- persistent decline in real COVID-19. sulted in the loss of some my is depen- economic activity,” sim- $80 billion due to medical ilar to economic trends expenses, travel and tourism dent on the caused by COVID-19. restrictions, loss in consum- duration and The study concludes that areas er confidence, and loss in investments, where local governments implemented according to a U.S. Institute of Medicine death toll of Non-Pharmaceutical Invention (NPI) study. Likewise, the 2014-2015 West Af- policies like school closures, public gath- rican Ebola crisis heavily impacted inter- the virus...” ering cancellations, and quarantines ear- national prices for bauxite, iron ore, and lier in the year experience quicker eco- gold, losing 30-60 percent of overall val- nomic recovery compared to areas that ue while hurting GDP growth and ulti- do not immediately intervene. For exam- mately costing the region approximately ple, because Oakland implemented NPIs $2.8 billion, according to the World Bank. early in the year, the California city saw The future of the world economy is lower mortality rates and experienced dependent on the duration and death toll a strong and quick economic recovery. of the virus, with both in direct correla- Meanwhile, Philadelphia continued to tion with public health response. The hold major public gatherings, subse- U.S. stock market reciprocated anxiet- quently experiencing higher mortality ies surrounding outbreak duration and rates and a slower recovery of city-level response in March, anticipating a slow- employment, manufacturing output, and down in economic growth. The S&P 500 holdings of national bank assets. The index lost almost half its value when it study corroborates Brookings Institute bottomed on March 23. The Dow Jones findings, which state that while govern- Industrial Average lost 40 percent of its A healthcare worker assessing a sick trav- eler at the airport. Courtesy of Rawpixel. 9 value on the same day, while U.S. un- Europe is also taking similar action. employment skyrocketed to 13 percent. The New York Times reports the EU Given the volatile stock market, the backed a half-trillion euro stimulus pack- Courtesy of Rawpixel. Federal Reserve indicated that they “will age to protect their economies. Ger- do anything within its power” to aid the many’s government is also allocating economy while Congress passed a $2 350 billion euros to bail out business- trillion stimulus package to provide eco- es, and the Bank of England is low- nomic support. A CNBC analysis asserts ering interest rates and spending 400 the brief economic rebound was a direct billion euros to protect workers’ pay. result of Congress’s relief package and an In the last 100 years, the world has improving outlook on the outbreak, many not experienced a pandemic that ravaged fear that the market might crash again. and disrupted life more than COVID-19. In Asia, the Chinese stock market Given lessons learned from the 1918 slowly recovers from COVID-19-re- Spanish flu pandemic, governments lated falls while economists expect the must intervene to implement and en- country to have a slow growth this year. force NPIs in order to minimize illnesses China’s central bank announced that deaths. Global economies will not begin they will reduce reserve requirements to recover until governments contain to help prop up businesses. Meanwhile, and minimize the virus. States now face Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe the difficult challenge of stabilizing their promises an ‘unprecedented’ stimulus economy while also supporting their package for cash payments, interest-free people, a task that could result, if not loans, and other programs designed to done correctly, at an even higher cost. stimulate the shrinking economy suffering from a drop export demand, Contact Ali at [email protected] a direct result of the virus outbreak.

Courtesy of Unsplash. 10 Vulnerable Populations: COVID-19 and the Risk of Leaving Developing States Behind Megan Gawron Staff Writer

11 Photo Courtesy of CNET. As Americans lament the social dis- nerable population continued to suffer. tancing measures in place to combat Without greater access to health fa- COVID-19, thousands of the world’s cilities and professionals, the Rohing- most vulnerable populations face an ya are bound to face the same fate as even greater challenge than closed those living in Mae La a decade ago. nightclubs and toilet paper shortages. However, refugees are far from the NPR reports that refugees and people only at-risk group facing this pandemic. in developing states with already fragile Al Jazeera warns that developing na- healthcare systems are at an increased tions with fragile healthcare systems risk of contracting the deadly disease. may become hot spots for COVID-19. Myanmar’s persecution of Rohingya This is especially true in Nigeria, where A woman receiving an influenza vaccination Muslims has forced over a million ref- population density limits civilians’ abil- in Laos. Courtesy of Rawpizel. ugees to flee into Bangladesh since the ity to self-isolate. While the number of 1990s, more than half of which now liv- COVID-19 patients soars to over 200, ing in Kutupalong, Cox’s Bazaar. Accord- according to CNBC Africa, a deadly ing to UNHCR, the large size of this set- outbreak of Lassa fever is exhausting tlement draws “concerns over the lack of healthcare facilities across the country. adequate water, shelter, and sanitation,” a According to Quartz Africa, Lassa fe- situation that Asia Times describes as a ver, a disease comparable to Ebola, af- “time bomb.” While Japan Times reports flicted more Nigerians in the first two that the Kutupalong camp months of 2020 than in has no confirmed cases as 2017 and 2018 combined. of April 4, the refugee’s While the country has reliance on aid from Ban- “Developing only suffered roughly 132 gladeshi locals and interna- deaths, doctors believe the tional humanitarian workers nations with epidemic is far from over. leaves them at constant risk On top of Lassa fever of exposure. Once a refu- fragile health- and COVID-19, a third gee contracts the disease, problem compounds Nige- the close-quarters nature of care systems ria’s health crisis: access to the camp and the absence may become working doctors. Healthcare of adequate health infra- professionals in the capital structure means the disease hot spots for Abuja are now on strike, will spread like wildfire, according to The New Hu- quickly surpassing volun- COVID-19.” manitarian, asserting that South Sudanese refugees practice social teers’ capacity to combat it. they have not been paid in distancing while waiting for food. Courtesy of Samuel Otieno (UNHCR) The situation the Ro- two months. Despite the ris- hingya face in Bangladesh ing need for them, doctors parallels the state of the Mae La refugee insist that they will not return to work camp in Thailand during the 2009 H1N1 until they receive all the back pay they are pandemic. The National Center for Bio- owed. Until the strike is over, the three technology Information reports the Mae million residents of Abuja are left to cope La camp, which housed only half the with these two diseases on their own. population density of Kutupalong, had Across the Atlantic, Haiti struggles to five times the instances of influenza and battle COVID-19 after years of natural influenza-associated pneumonia than disasters and cholera outbreaks, which the rest of Thailand. According to Asia devastate their sanitation and health fa- News, Mae La refugees recovering from cilities. In an interview with Press Her- the effects of the pandemic subsequently ald, Haitian civilian Majorie Jean-Bap- suffered outbreaks of dengue and chol- tiste laments, “Coronavirus will kill like Israel is also home to a wide variety era. Reuters reported skyrocketing sui- Cholera did. The country doesn’t have of cultures and businesses. Photo cide rates in Mae La as the already vul- any resources to combat epidemic.” Courtesy of Flickr. 12 A young Indian girl receiving a dose of While Haitian citizens anxiously wait plan to dispense aid. In a statement regard- polio vaccine by a trained healthcare to see if COVID-19 will be contained, ing its new humanitarian plan, the UN as- worker. Courtesy of Rawpixel. the state faces a problem that may be serts that without significant aid, children more pressing than faltering hospital in- in developing nations will be the “hidden frastructure: gang violence. The Guardian victims” of this pandemic. While most ward lessening the impact of the reports that gangs COVID-19 re- pandemic, but if member states in Haiti take advan- lated deaths neglect to follow through, develop- tage of civil unrest occur in peo- ing states and refugees will be left for personal gain, The UN asserts that without ple over age 60 more vulnerable than ever before. kidnapping hospi- significant aid,children in rather than ad- tal administration olescents, the Contact Megan at megan.gawron@ and holding them developing nations will be UN contends student.shu.edu for ransom, ac- the “hidden victims” of this that pandem- cording to Reuters. ic-driven school Although UN pandemic... put children at an closures in de- Secretary-General increased risk of neglect, labor veloping nations Antonio Guterres put children at announced a $2 exploitation, and sexual abuse. an increased billion global hu- risk of ne- manitarian aid plan glect, labor ex- to help countries such as Haiti to combat ploitation, and sexual abuse. COVID-19, Haitians remain skeptical. The UN Development Programme posits The National Review reports that the last the economic losses caused by COVID-19 time the UN sought to help Haiti, UN have the potential to impact education, Peacekeepers sexually assaulted wom- human rights, and food security in many en, fathered children with girls as young nations. While the media bombards cit- as 11, and caused a cholera outbreak izens with information about infection which infected over 80,000 Haitians. rates and death tolls, people must look The UN maintains that it seeks to help at who may be left behind. Aid pack- developing nations and will push for its ages proposed by the UN are a step to- 13 Courtesy of Rawpixel. COVID-19 and the Emergency Ethics: A New Dimension of Medical and Political Response Natalie Sherman Staff Writer

Courtesy of the National Guard (Flickr). 14 As the severity of the COVID-19 the ethics of ‘flattening the curve’ and move that would pave the way for Dute- pandemic increases at an alarming rate, changing their behavior to protect oth- rte to further consolidate his hold over the hypothetical shortages of ventilators ers, often at deep costs to themselves.” the Philippine government. Heavy inter- and hospital beds described by the New Many actions taken by governments national criticism later forced the idea England Journal of Medicine are now a in response to this time of emergency, out of subsequent versions of the bill. haunting reality. The rapidly spreading vi- such as issuing stay-at-home orders and Perhaps the most discussed fac- rus continues to wreak havoc across the banning public gatherings, might be et of emergency ethics regarding the globe, compelling governments to sus- considered draconian during normal cir- COVID-19 pandemic is the decision pend many of the rights enjoyed by their cumstances. The New York Times states, healthcare professionals must make citizens and doctors to choose which pa- “The pandemic is already redefining when facing scarcity, namely triage. No- tients to save – decisions that would oth- norms. Governments that initially criti- torious in battlefield medicine but also erwise be unthinkable in everyday life. cized China for putting millions of its citi- regularly practiced in emergency rooms, Such decisions are the result of what zens under lockdown have since followed triage is the practice of sorting patients the Centers for Disease Control and suit.” Indeed, obeying the new restric- by the urgency of their need. Although the idea of treating someone with a se- rious injury before someone suffering from a cold is familiar, large-scale disasters and pandemics level new and chal- lenging implications for practicing triage. When critical medical supplies run low, doctors must make decisions not just about when someone will receive care but whether they will receive care at all. When dealing with patient prioritiza- tion, There are three types of medical triage: prioritarianism, egalitarianism, and utilitarianism. Vox describes prioritarianism as widely practiced in emergency rooms, involving the treatment of the sickest and most at-risk patients first. Egalitarianism treats all patients equally and often employs a lottery system. Utili- tarianism seeks to maximize benefits with the lives saved. Triage utilitarianism would prioritize younger patients or those with fewer health complications to maximize the number of years and quality of life of the patients they do choose to save. As noted by The Lancet, hospitals typically use a combination of all three Courtesy of Flickr. Prevention (CDC) calls “tragic choic- triage approaches: “No single principle es.” The CDC defines tragic choices tions and limitations that have been put is sufficient to incorporate all morally as “public choices involving life and on citizens’ rights during this pandemic relevant considerations and therefore death situations that pit irreconcilable arguably helps decrease transmission of individual principles must be combined values against one another.” Often re- COVID-19 and reduce the number of into multi-principle allocation systems.” ferred to as emergency ethics, these are cases healthcare professionals will have However, utilitarianism triage has come the extraordinary choices that must be to take on at the peak of the pandemic. under fire in recent years for issues made during times of emergency re- The South China Morning Post re- of equality and fairness. Ira Bedzow quiring special ethical considerations. ports that these very considerations are and Lila Kagedan, two medical eth- Considering emergency ethics is now now on trial in the Philippines. Recent ics experts, tell CNN that utilitarian- the new facet of everyday life for much versions of an emergency powers bill ism should not be used in triage except of the world. The New Humanitarian initially gave President Rodrigo Duterte in cases where it is clinically relevant. reports that “people all over the world the right to take control of private firms They argue that medical professionals [are] understanding and getting behind like public utilities and private banks, a have no authority to prioritize patients 15 Scientists are working tirelessly to find a vaccine for the virus. Courtesy of Rawpixel.

Water pollution such as this costs $8 billion in damages to the environment. Photo Courtesy of Wikimedia.

simply because of their youth or any icine. Bedzow and Kagedan explain presumed value they may give to soci- the harsh realities facing pandem- ety. Other indirect factors, such as co- ic triage to CNN moving forward: morbidities, are only relevant should “In a war, we want to treat and return they affect survivability or prognosis. the strongest and fiercest soldiers to the Triage can also be traumatizing to battlefield to kill the enemy. In a pandem- healthcare workers. Doctors and nurs- ic which is straining medical resources es who chose their profession so that and health care systems, we want some- they could help others are put into a thing different: to save civilians’ lives in a position where they must make the de- way that maintains our own humanity.” cision of which patients they will save and which they will be forced to let die. Contact Natalie at natalie.sherman@ The COVID-19 student.shu.edu pandemic response is often compared to a war, but wartime tri- “The pandemic is al- age does not account ready redefining norms. for the diverse victims of COVID-19. Governments that ini- If healthcare pro- tially criticized China fessionals do have to make tough de- for putting millions of its cisions about which citizens under lockdown patients to allocate resources to, there have since followed suit.” are many more ethical considerations to be made than - The New York Times in battlefield med- Courtesy of Rawpixel. 16 “Wake-Up Call”: How the Coronavirus Can Impact Climate Change Axel Songerath Staff Writer

17 As the coronavirus continues to morph cording to the BBC, traffic levels in New more frequency. The precise amount into a global pandemic few saw coming, York City were estimated to be down depends on weather conditions, ge- civilians watch as hazardous biocontam- 35% compared to a year ago. Emis- ography, and different family lifestyle. ination, a perilous healthcare crisis, and sions of carbon monoxide, mainly due “If you come home to a cold house a looming economic crash unfold across to cars and trucks, fell by roughly 50%. and you have to heat it, that’s going to the globe. Amongst the chaos of this in- The onset of the coronavirus pan- more than offset the savings from not ternational emergency, an unknown and demic is forcing scientists to examine the driving your vehicle to work, on aver- unseen actor emerges: the environment. relationship between age,” Jones says. “If The environmental effects of the everyday human be- you come home to COVID-19 pandemic are visible across haviors, their re- The onset of the coronavirus a beautiful day as the world. The Guardian reports that in sponse to large-scale we have in Califor- Nara, Japan, sika deer wander through disasters, and carbon pandemic is forcing scientists nia, and there was city streets and subway stations, with rac- footprints. Climate to examine the relationship somebody home coons spotted on the beach in an emp- change policy ex- between everyday human anyway, really we’re tied San Felipe, Panama and wild turkeys pert Christopher not using much making a reappearance in Oakland, Cal- Jones told Scientific behaviors, their response to more energy than ifornia. It appears that ecosystems can American that “with large-scale disasters, and car- if I were at work.” indeed rebound with speed once hu- the economy and bon footprints. Another catch man intervention subsides, according to carbon footprints, is the potential Bloomberg. However, the question of they’re so interre- harm that non-en- how to sustain these gains still looms. lated that you really vironmentally con- The story of lowered carbon emis- quickly start to have all these complex in- scious government interventions will sions began right where the virus itself teractions.” Simply put, a typical American do to the environment. According to originated: The People’s Republic of under a government-issued stay-at-home Wired, the most likely outcome of this China. According to Scientific American, order consumes less carbon than ever. pandemic is not a climate change solu- China has seen a 25% decrease in carbon Although this reality highlights how tion. In order to make for the econom- emissions since the viral outbreak. This much of our carbon footprint derives ic losses, countries like China and the is largely due to the sudden and almost from daily activity, there is still a catch. U.S will instead roar back with stimu- immediate halt in travel and manufactur- Staying at home could mean that peo- lus packages that will bolster industries ing activity around the nation. Emission ple consume much more energy inside who harm the environment the most. outputs similarly declined worldwide as the home, Scientific American reports, The BBC reports that governments the spread of COVID-19 curtailed the from online shopping to watching TV around the world now have the oppor- global demand for oil and air travel. Ac- to using household appliances with tune moment to latch on to green energy. Professor Corinne Le Quéré from the University of East Anglia stated, “[governments] should focus on those things that are ready to go that would lower emissions, like renovating build- ings, putting in heat pumps and electric chargers. These are not complicated and can be done straight away, they are just waiting for financial incentives." Other reports are much less op- timistic. Joanna

NASA satellite data shows that the Northeastern U.S. has seen decreased levels of nitrogen dioxide air pollution. Courtesy of NASA. 18 Courtesy of Christos Kavaliotis (Flickr).

Lewis, an expert on China’s energy sec- ernment interventionist policies could tor at Georgetown University, told the end up doing more harm in the long run. Washington Post, “The reductions are No matter what the consequences, one substantial, but they are most certain- thing is clear: governments must be in- ly only temporary, and there will likely centivized to adopt environmentally sus- be a rebound effect. Once people go tainable practices. COVID-10 may be a back to work and factories restart, they wake-up call, but if nothing is done in the may try to make up for lost time. This near future, it will be far from the only one. could result in a surge in emissions.” Although the impact of the corona- Contact Axel at [email protected]. virus pandemic is not something to be edu celebrated in any capacity, there are tan- gible goals for governments to achieve in the wake of this tragedy. Jacqueline Klopp, co-director of the Center for Sustainable Urban Development at Co- lumbia University stated to Scientific American, “For resiliency in crises, public health and greenhouse gas reductions, it is critical to build cities that cater for zero emissions, healthy modes of trans- port. They can do that by investing in safe, segregated bike lanes and excellent sidewalks, as well as amenities not too far away from where people live, so they have the option of using these modes.” Ultimately, the COVID-19 pandemic will not offer up a solution to climate change. Even though it may have given the Earth a much-needed breather, gov- Courtesy of Rawpixel. 19 Courtesy of Sharon McCutcheon (Unsplash). 20