In a fit of petulance, the US has decided to stop contributing to the World Health Organization (WHO) for 60 days because it believes that WHO has been covering up China’s role in the COVID-19 pandemic. I will wait to see what evidence the Trump Administration has to validate its claims, but will at the same time acknowledge that WHO–like many international organizations–has to pay inordinate attention to state egos. But the decision to not participate in the development of a COVID-19 vaccine which WHO is trying to foster is the epitome of short-sightedness. Many of the scientists who work at WHO are among the best in the world, and the organization offers the opportunity to share information helping to avoid unnecessary duplication of efforts. The graph below from New Scientist is clear evidence that the US really should be asking for help from others–it is not doing a good job on its own.
Most of us have been preoccupied with the tragedy of the COVID-19 pandemic, but we should remember that there have been other tragic events in the world. A week ago, 22 people in Nova Scotia were murdered by a lone gunman. One of the victims was a young woman named Emily Hunt who was recorded playing the violin sometime before her death. The Canadian Broadcasting Corporation memorialized some of the victims and posted an extraordinary tribute to Emily Hunt. One can open the video here.
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