This week the World Health Organisation (WHO) has declared the coronavirus (Covid-19) as a global pandemic. So far we have seen quarantines, self isolations, financial markets crash and supermarket shelves empty as people panic in reaction to the outbreak.
To date we have seen 6,492 number of deaths worldwide and these numbers continue to grow. In the last few few days we have seen France close all schools for the immediate future, the United States ban travel into the country from Europe and major sporting events and large congregations postponed across the world. This is an unprecedented scenario unlike anything the world has seen before.
So what happens next? As the virus spreads and more people die I expect borders to close and travel to be further restricted. I expect areas to be quarantined, curfews inflicted and civil liberties to be reduced as precautionary methods are taken to protect public health. Financial markets will also continue to fluctuate as global economies are affected by workplace closures and the overriding uncertainty caused by the virus.
I have read that scientists in Israel have developed a Coronavirus vaccine but a long period of pre-clinical and clinical trials is set to follow. I have also seen in the last few days that Bill Gates has resigned from his position on Microsoft's board to concentrate on philanthropy and can see his Foundation potentially fund the global distribution of the vaccine. I suggest that the fear caused by the pandemic could lead to mandatory vaccinations in the name of public health and safety. Financially, the fiat money system may never be the same with paper notes and metal coins demonised because of their threat of spreading infection leading to a new crypto-based, cashless society.
My inner cynic questions the coincidences that 'Event 201', a scenario where a a novel zoonotic coronavirus outbreak was modelled by the World Economic Forum and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation in October 2019; also that Israel's Galilee's Research Institute group had the "pure luck" (as described by biotechnology group leader Dr. Chen Katz) to choose the coronavirus as their model for their system as a proof of concept for their technology. With the advanced nano technology that could permit a vaccine to be be a trojan horse for microchipping the world’s population it would be imprudent to not have concerns.
It remains unknown what will happen although it seems likely that the virus will continue to dominate headlines for the foreseeable future. Whether it is months or years the world we know when we reach the other side of this pandemic is likely to be very different. I suggest the impact this will have on the freedom of the world could be similar to 9/11.