It is now recognized all over the world that COVID-19 originated from the Wuhan region in China and China did not forewarn the world at the right time about what is now known as the China virus disaster.

While the world is suffering due to the virus spread enormously, China now claims that it has eliminated the virus spread in their country and it has resumed its economic activities. It further claims that whatever virus spread happened in recent days is due to the travelers coming from abroad.

The world is struggling to know as to why the virus has occurred in China and what is the remedy?

However, China has not cared to explain how it stopped the spread.  If it is true that China has really stopped the virus spread, it should inform the world about the strategies it adopted to solve the crisis, which would be highly beneficial to the world community at the present time.

As the originator of the virus, China has the duty to keep the world informed about the happenings, as the virus spread do not recognize the borders between countries.

Even as the world is now experiencing deep distress and suffering due to the spread of the virus, China has said that it has lifted the lockdown in several regions, including the hotspots of the virus and the economic activities have resumed. China now claims that it is active in the export market for its goods and services.

Since the spread of this virus is very fast and it has been very widespread in China, people outside the Asian country could not believe that they could have entirely eliminated the virus from its region.  Of course, people living in China have to necessarily accept the information provided by their government, as the media there is highly restricted and free speech is not allowed.
Across the world, people still suspect that the virus could still be active in China. They also feel that it is too early for this highly populous country to claim that the virus has stopped from spreading.

For example, the Tibet region in China has been occupied by Beijing for several decades now. No one is permitted to enter Tibet or go out without the Chinese government’s permission. Tibet is a cold region and there are views that cold conditions could be receptive to the spread of China virus.

There is no word from China about the conditions in Tibet, while thousands of Tibetan refugees living around the world are extremely anxious to know as to whether the Tibet region has been affected by the virus and if so, to what extent.

Obviously, the decision of the government of China to lift the lockdown in all regions including Wuhan has caused alarm all over the world. Many cannot but think that China is exhibiting irresponsible attitude in lifting the lockdown in the hotspots of the virus, which could spread anywhere and everywhere, as some researchers claim that this virus could be airborne.

The adverse consequences of lifting the lockdown in hotspots in China could be very severe as it has the potential of spreading the virus once again across the world. It is high time that China should be firmly told to keep the hotspot area under lockdown at least for one more month until the world is free of this virus.

Who can tell this to China and will the Chinese government listen?

Obviously, the United Nations /World Health Organisation (WHO), who seems to be giving the benefit of doubt to China so far and seem to think that it has sinned against rather than sinning, should tell Beijing that it should accept the responsibility and should be extremely careful in dealing with the virus issue in the days ahead.

With the resumption of industrial and economic activities, as claimed by China, it is the duty of the UNO/WHO to tell the world community to be extremely cautious in accepting the products and services exported from China, in the immediate future, as the product could be infected.

Further, the ban on international travel to China should be enforced at least for the next month, and it should be reviewed after this period gets over.

It is said that China has started allowing the wet animal market to open and thrive, particularly in a situation where many believe that the source of the virus could be the wet animal market.

Hopefully, China will understand the world sentiments and the anxiety of the world citizens and respond to the appeal for not lifting the lockdown in the hotspots.

In the unfortunate event of China not listening to the appeal of the world community, UN/WHO should take the initiative and talk to the Chinese government on behalf of the world citizens and persuade them to not to lift the lockdown in the hotspots.

If China still would not oblige, then there will be no alternative other than imposing some sanctions on China by UNO to make it behave. It is hoped that China would ensure that such compulsive need for the world to impose sanctions against China would not become necessary.

(The author is Trustee, NGO Nandini Voice for the Deprived, Chennai. He can be contacted at nsvenkatchennai@gmail.com)