With this in mind CARICOM has to prepare for these eventualities. This is not doom and gloom or reckless projectioneering. No, it's presenting a MODEL of all (or most) of the macro-variables that can happen if the region is subjected to a coronavirus epidemic. The fact is that we are still in the EARLY stages of the virus's life cycle and while silly verbal grandstanding and uninformed speculations are riddling the social spaces, a cold sober look of what will happen, where the region is, and what needs to happen is the ONLY WAY TO FIGHT any outbreak in the region. Right now, Social Media and especially Facebook is now in the throes of an INFODEMIC where all kinds of memes, fake news, illiterate speculations, misunderstandings and outright lies and racial slander when it comes to the coronavirus, is dominating the social spaces.
Virus misinformation is rampant on social spaces where CARICOM expatriates gather, converse and populate. Indeed, coronavirus misinformation and social media infestations are spreading faster than the virus itself and is now a public/social square pandemic. For CARICOM and its populations this adds to the anxiety, fear and uncertainty and only helps to hobble local governments efforts to get out and disseminate genuine fact-based information. And this is all happening BEFORE a major virus outbreak hits the region. Can you imagine what will happen if and when the virus does hit and there are the intended and expected outcomes?
That is why it is CRITICAL at this moment with the limited window of opportunity that CARICOM prepares and set-up structures to deal with all of these issues and eventualities. The region cannot afford to wait until a major outbreak happens to try and manage the negative consequences that will occur. If CARICOM does not prepare NOW, on the front end, it will manage crises on the back end that will undermine its ability to focus on fighting the outbreak. I urge CARICOM to think ahead, think out of the box, and put in place methods and organization that will help manage what will be a very devastating episode in recent Caribbean history.
FOOTNOTE: Facebook is how fighting the avalanche of fake news, memes and outright misinformation on the platform. Now, if you search for "coronavirus" the World Health Organization pops up. It's also taken down and is monitoring better all of the "instant citizen journalists" deliberately spreading falsehoods and lies surrounding the virus.
(Article changed on March 1, 2020 at 17:41)
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