Tokyo assesses the first ever postponement of the Olympics. Seoul strengthens quarantine measures for those arriving from abroad. Dialogue with Pyongyang. Taipei closes airports and records a slight increase in contagion cases.
Suspension of functions in the larger parishes of Tokyo. Local Catholics are united in prayer. The moment to create a stronger spiritual communion among the faithful. On March 24 the archdiocese will make a decision for Easter and Holy Week.
China’s Orwellian experiment to fight the virus is working at home, but cannot be replicated in Europe or the United States. Except for Italy and Spain, no major western country is praising China’s fight against the pandemic.
Success against the infection will improve the international image of the "rebel province". When the virus first appeared in Wuhan, Taiwan immediately imposed health controls and closed the borders with China. It put to good use the lessons it learnt from the SARS crisis. Citizens have been widely informed about how to stop the contagion. Doubts remain about its possible membership in the WHO.
Almost 50 per cent of large retailers and 60 per cent of restaurants are in serious difficulty. Interest rates remain unchanged. In some provinces, coupons are given to people to encourage them to buy. Private spending and energy production are down sharply.
Seoul is the worst hit down 8.39%. Shanghai and Shenzhen limit damage. Fears of an imminent recession. The stimuli are useless if people cannot work and spend. Chinese economists divided over the need for a major economic aid program.
The call also covers Hong Kong and Macao. New York Times, Washington Post and Wall Street Journal the newspapers affected. An attack on the "one country, two systems" principle. It’s an all-out clash between the two superpowers.
About 25 labour protests have taken place this month. Some 233 million workers in small- and medium-sized enterprises are the most vulnerable to the effects of the epidemic crisis. Layoffs, non-payment of wages, high commercial rents are the main cause of protests. Taxi drivers demand the suspension of cab rental fees.
180 thousand cases worldwide. Infections decrease in China; increase in Europe and the United States. Borders in many Asian states have closed. Similar restrictions also in the USA, the European Union, Canada and Russia.
The closure of parishes should push the faithful to an inner quest of faith. Such a time of crisis is also a time for deep reflection. If believers depend on celebrations and outer expressions of the faith, they risk being overwhelmed by atheism. People should ask themselves what we have gained and what we have lost since the ongoing crisis began.
The real heroes are the people who stayed home as well as the doctors, nurses and volunteers. Those responsible for delays in responding to the crisis must resign and be put on trial.
Industrial production down by 13.5% in January and February. Retail sales by 20.5%. Fixed investments fall: -24.5%. It is the first trade deficit since March 2018 (-6 billion euros). The drop in foreign demand limits recovery. Asian stock markets show little faith in the stimuli promised in the West. Yesterday only 16 cases of infection.
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