Analysis & Opinions - The Boston Globe

The Collateral Damage of the Coronavirus

| Feb. 19, 2020

The current coronavirus outbreak demonstrates how hospitals and clinics, when overwhelmed, leave a significant portion of the afflicted population unattended.

As scientists race to thwart the novel coronavirus, little is being done to protect people from the significant vulnerabilities that arise from our policies, fractured health systems, and interlinked economies.

The devastation of health systems and economies are two significant hazards of a burgeoning epidemic. Both forms of collateral damage are worsened by political maneuvering, mismanagement, lack of resources, lack of transparency, corruption, and purposeful disinformation campaigns.

The current coronavirus outbreak demonstrates how hospitals and clinics, when overwhelmed, leave a significant portion of the afflicted population unattended. Of the more than 70,000 cases reported in China, many of those in need have not had access to even the most basic health interventions due to lack of equipment, medicines, or interminable waiting times....

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For more information on this publication: Belfer Communications Office
For Academic Citation: Kayyem, Juliette, Margaret Bourdeaux, Vanessa Kerry and Annmarie Sasdi.“The Collateral Damage of the Coronavirus.” The Boston Globe, February 19, 2020.

The Authors

Juliette Kayyem Headshot

Juliette Kayyem

  • Member of the Board, Belfer Center
  • Belfer Senior Lecturer in International Security, Harvard Kennedy School
  • Faculty Director, Homeland Security Project
  • Faculty Affiliate, Middle East Initiative
Expertise:

Vanessa Kerry

Annmarie Sasdi

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