Exlusively for Argumentum
By Genc Mlloja
An urge from inside and outside of Albania is being addressed to the people to make the utmost to avoid panic because as one epidemic expert said panic and fear are the ‘allies’ of Covid-19 which has gripped this Balkan country. Instead people are urged to abide by restrictions in an emergency situation when their life is in peril and among many of the preventive measures is the extraordinary order: “Stay at home!”
The coronavirus epidemic has hit the entire European Continent after its outbreak in China three months ago where as it was witnessed an unprecedented war was waged to overpower the virus, an unknown plague causing thousands of victims and thousands upon thousands of people affected in that Asian country. In addition no one knows the social and economic impact on China home of 1.5 billion people, but the main achievement of which they can be proud and happy is the announced defeat of Covid-19.
In Europe specialists started to blame authorities, particularly Italians, for not taking preventive restrictions as they had at their disposal more than four-week time since the outbreak of the epidemic in China. The alarm over the expected threat was raised with sufficient time to act to reduce as much as possible the disaster.
But, anyway, now all specialists and political forces try to focus on the present with the appeal of joint efforts to face the spreading plague hinting that there will be plenty of time to find out responsibilities and the culprits when waters calm down.
In Albania specialists and medical staff are doing a tremendous endeavor to cope with the situation in extraordinary circumstances because of the aggressiveness of the virus as well as the lack of up-to-date sufficient medical standards required in face of a pandemic of such proportions.
As many Albanians I am part of those who think that the government should have been very energetic to take preliminary measures to prepare for the worst, and I do not intend to list what is almost said repeatedly because everyone is aware of them.
I am not going to raise these concerns now because in my opinion there is a more tough and fierce fight ahead against Covid-19.
The UN Coordinator in Tirana, Brian J. Williams was of the opinion that the situation could be confronted by doing the job together. “It is the right moment for a kind of national unity,” he urged while speaking to Albanians on TV on Thursday.
Earlier last Tuesday the US Embassy in Tirana in a statement said Covid-19 requires everyone in Albania, no matter who they are, to be united in spirit and in action. “As President (Ilir) Meta, Prime Minister (Edi) Rama, and Democratic Party Chairman (Lulzim) Basha have all agreed, this is a time for calm, sensible action by the public and swift, responsible action by all leaders,” noted the statement of the Embassy of US considered by Albanians, including politicians of all ‘colors’, Albania’s main strategic ally.
Also, it is evident the energetic activity of President Ilir Meta to mobilize all forces in these circumstances and in this frame he has held consultations with political leaders as well as with heads of government specialized institutions of health, economy, banking system etc.
To prevent the galloping spread of the virus the contribution of all is needed, and of paramount importance are particularly the efforts of the government to lead a coordinated and transparent response that keeps all Albanians as safe, healthy, and informed as possible. It is needed also a more relaxed social atmosphere in the country for the people to be calm, free of panic and keep safe.
I would say that such a self-restraint approach could be a worthy price to pay to win the current ‘struggle’ with the least harm on the people. For sure, there will be plenty of time for criticism, blames and curses, this disgustful routine of Albania’s political class during the last 30 years, after the worst passes.
“The virus looks at where you are. It doesn’t matter what nationality you are,” said wisely UN’s envoy in Tirana William Brian. Wouldn’t be more sensible and human zero political fight and instead of it a concerted struggle to check Covid-19 now?
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