Global Journal of Human Social Science, F: Political Science, Volume 22 Issue 5

COVID-19 and Human Security: Western Populism, Chinese Strong State and Africa’s Submissive Populace © 2022 Global Journals Volume XXII Issue V Version I 54 ( ) Global Journal of Human Social Science - Year 2022 F virus and ensured that medical supplies were sent (Ng, 2020) including deployment of 42,000 medical staff from other provinces. 2. Two hospitals equipped with 5G systems were built primarily for Covid-19 patients, advanced medical facilities and 2000 beds were built in the city within 10 days, while 16 makeshift hospitals (with 30,000 beds) were established to treat people who are asymptomatic. (Gu & Li, 2020). 3. Foreign travels and other social gatherings were suspended and temperature checks and mandatory wearing of face mask were ensured. People who had recently travelled to Wuhan were classified into high-risk groups and put under home quarantine for two weeks. (Hartley & Jarvis, 2020; Shaw, Kim & Hua, 2020). 4. China declared a nation-wide war against Covid-19 with the assistance from health personnel and volunteers; and providing logistics support; and citizen vigilance. (He, 2020). The domestic transmission of the Covid-19 virus has been cut off on the whole in China. It was never going to be an easy job, but through strenuous efforts and tremendous sacrifices, as well as the sympathy and support from the international community, the goal was achievable (Perez-Pena, 2020). Covid-19 is a new kind of virus, and China was its first major victim. Therefore, China’s war against the virus was inevitably going to be full of challenges, despite being able to identify the pathogen in record time (Salzberger & Ehrestein, 2020). In the wake of the outbreak, China faced an either-or situation: Economic development or people’s lives. The Chinese leadership believes that people’s lives are priceless and worth any short-term economic fallout. Thus an unprecedented anti-epidemic campaign, commanded and deployed by President Xi Jinping, was rapidly launched in China with the whole Communist Party and people from all walks of life joining in the great struggle (Gao & Yu, 2020). But how exactly was China’s anti-pandemic strategy? The following provide a summary of China’s strong state in fight of the Covid-19 pandemic: Authorities of China saw it as an emergency to quarantine Wuhan and gave it all the necessary assistance the city requires. As the capital city and highly endemic area of the Covid-19, Wuhan was declared lockdown to curtail the escalating infection and spread of the virus in the city and beyond. The government constantly made sure that inhabitants of Wuhan do not travel outside the city and also ensured constant and timely supply of medicine and medical supplies, and basic necessities of life such as food, water and personal protective equipment (PPE) (Ng, 2020). Some of the measure that were taken to stop the overwhelming infection at Hubei province include deployment of 42,000 medical staff from other provinces to assist with provision of health care assistance at Wuhan. Two hospitals which were powered by 5G systems and highly improved health facilities with estimated bed capacity of 2000 were provided in less than two weeks. Again 16 makeshift health facilties with about 30,000 beds were built for treating patients with mild symptoms. Compulsory health screening was done for about fourteen million residents of Wuhan by medical staff in Wuhan (Gu & Lin 2020). The government of China extended partial lockdown measures to include that of Hubei province and eventually the entire country of China. At the time the covid-19 pandemic was heightened, authorities and political leaders of China provided transportation to link cities and provinces. Towns and villages were also put under absolute control and ensure the closure of public and other places of scenic interest such as gardens, museums, cinemas and restaurants (Gu & Li, 2020). The citizens were cautioned to stop unnecessary travels, social activities and gatherings. There was an insistence on compulsory wearing of nose masks. Other measures such as regular checking of body temperature were enforced before one is allowed to access public places like supermarkets and other public gatherings. Commuters to and from highly endemic area like Wuhan were seen to be in the category of high-risk groups and they were made to be isolated and kept under quarantine for two weeks. Symptomatic patients of covid-19 were quickly sent for treatment at health facilities that have been designated purposefully for treating covid-19 patients and the government of China made sure that treatment cost and other expenditure regarding this were absorbed by the state and not the individual patients (Hartley & Jarvis, 2020; Shaw, Kim & Hua, 2020). The citizens of China through loyalty and corporation applauded and assisted the government’s efforts in fighting the virus and this was done through provision of anti-epidemic measures and essential logistics (Lin & Wu, 2020). Regular updates on infection, fatality and recovery cases of the covid-19 virus were reported on the mass media and other outlets. The government also consistently updated the citizens on its efforts to control and curtail the further spread of the virus which has become a threat to the economic growth of China. All these measure put in place by the government yielded results and had the support from the citizens. The confidence of the peopled in the government grew up and they happily embraced the restriction measures which have been put in place to stop the spread of the virus. (Gao & Yu, 2020). As a way of curtailing personal contacts and face to face interaction, digital and online shopping and marketing were encouraged. The people of Wuhan therefore did not see the need to go out ones their basic needs were provided through volunteers and other government officials and this helped curtail the infection of the virus