20 coronavirus quotes showing how open borders and political correctness came before public health
The question is now why Europe and the rest of the world waited so long to close their borders, especially to hard-hit countries like China. The answer to that might have a lot to do with the next 20 quotes.
Emmanuel Macron: closing borders to Italy is a bad decision
French President Emmanuel Macron claimed on March 10 that Slovenia and Austria made "bad decisions" by severely restricting travel with Italy, which also neighbors France."I sincerely believe that these are bad decisions," Macron remarked after he partook in crisis talks about the coronavirus with other EU leaders during a video conference.
Just a week later, France closed its border to every nation in Europe.
EC president Ursula von der Leyen: General travel bans are ineffective
European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen also said on March 13 that "general travel bans are not seen as being the most effective by the World Health Organization" after voicing her opposition to countries unilaterally closing their borders.
The
coronavirus crisis, which has killed over 22,000 and virtually
destroyed the global economy, has seen government leaders, journalists
and health officials try their hardest to promote open borders despite
the threat to the global public.
The question is now why Europe and the rest of the world waited so long to close their borders, especially to hard-hit countries like China. The answer to that might have a lot to do with the next 20 quotes.
Warning of the danger of “nationalist isolation,” he said: “This virus has no passport. We must unify our forces, coordinate our responses and cooperate. European coordination is essential, and I will ensure it goes forward.”
"There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering which measures to take,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in early February.
The question is now why Europe and the rest of the world waited so long to close their borders, especially to hard-hit countries like China. The answer to that might have a lot to do with the next 20 quotes.
Macron said EU should avoid 'nationalist retreat'
French President Emmanuel Macron warned against hastily closing borders, which would amount to a "nationalist retreat".Warning of the danger of “nationalist isolation,” he said: “This virus has no passport. We must unify our forces, coordinate our responses and cooperate. European coordination is essential, and I will ensure it goes forward.”
WHO chief urges countries not to close borders to foreigners from China
The World Health Organization (WHO) pursued its dedication to open borders right until the end, with its head calling for countries to keep their borders open to China, where the coronavirus stemmed from."There is no reason for measures that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. We call on all countries to implement decisions that are evidence-based and consistent. WHO stands ready to provide advice to any country that is considering which measures to take,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus in early February.
Tedros
Adhanom, director general of the World Health Organization, left,
attends a meeting with Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang
Yi at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, Tuesday, Jan. 28,
2020. Naohiko Hatta/Pool Photo via AP
Tedros expressed his disapproval
of countries like Singapore, the United States, and Australia for
closing their borders to China.
The Council on Foreign Relations think tank has said that Tedros owes China after the communist government backed him during his election to become director-general in 2017.
Tedros denies that he follows orders from Beijing but the WHO has been accused of dragging its feet in declaring a global health emergency. Tedros even praised China for demonstrating "transparency" during the crisis despite evidence the country covered up the outbreak and persecuted medical whistleblowers.
“We reiterate our call to all countries not to impose restrictions that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. Such restrictions can have the effect of increasing fear and stigma, with little public health benefit,” Ghebreyesus said to the UN’s executive board in Geneva.
The WHO has long argued that closing borders to a country during an outbreak increases stigma towards that country and even whole ethnic groups.
Despite EU leaders and WHO officials being opposed to border closures, a huge survey by Reuters found that citizens were overwhelmingly in support of such measures, with Asian countries showing the highest support for border closures.
The Council on Foreign Relations think tank has said that Tedros owes China after the communist government backed him during his election to become director-general in 2017.
Tedros denies that he follows orders from Beijing but the WHO has been accused of dragging its feet in declaring a global health emergency. Tedros even praised China for demonstrating "transparency" during the crisis despite evidence the country covered up the outbreak and persecuted medical whistleblowers.
WHO chief: Closing borders increases 'fear' and 'stigma'
Ghebreyesus also later called for borders to stay open in a statement that appeared to put political correctness before public health.“We reiterate our call to all countries not to impose restrictions that unnecessarily interfere with international travel and trade. Such restrictions can have the effect of increasing fear and stigma, with little public health benefit,” Ghebreyesus said to the UN’s executive board in Geneva.
The WHO has long argued that closing borders to a country during an outbreak increases stigma towards that country and even whole ethnic groups.
Despite EU leaders and WHO officials being opposed to border closures, a huge survey by Reuters found that citizens were overwhelmingly in support of such measures, with Asian countries showing the highest support for border closures.
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