In early February, the World Health Organization praised China’s government for its response to the covid-19 virus.
While China was able to decrease the number of new cases rather quickly, the protocols the country put in place may have lasting effects on its citizens’ basic human rights.
The government was forcing people to stay inside, placing bans on public transportation and even was silencing doctors who were spreading information about the virus.
The WHO’s praise could normalize these types of protocols in the future. Because China was the first country to create a response to the coronavirus, if its protocol is deemed effective, other countries may look at it when creating a pandemic response.
Severely impeding citizens’ freedoms limits their ability to recover physically, financially and emotionally from the pandemic.
The WHO should reconsider its praise for China’s response. Humane response to future pandemics and the basic freedoms of people around the world during times of crisis may depend on it.
Benjamin Blackburn
Harrison