Disease “X” changes the world. Consequences of COVID-19 pandemic for CIS member-countries

In the shortlist of blueprint priority diseases of the World Health Organization for 2018, along with the famous and dangerous diseases, there is also a disease “X”. This is a designation of a disease, which may arise due to mutations, and lead to a new epidemic. COVID-19 became such disease. The disease is characterized by a long incubation period, during which it is already contagious, and the possibility of an asymptomatic course. These factors, as well as the unpreparedness of countries, determined its success. The causative agent of the disease - SARSCoV-2 appeared in China at the end of 2019. China has taken a series of tough measures using the armed forces to defeat the epidemic. All this helped China to get out of the epidemic as soon as possible and realize the opportunities provided by the situation. In the CIS, the government of each state has chosen one of three models for resolving the issue. Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan went the Chinese way and took tough quarantine measures. Most states of the Commonwealth have begun to gradually introduce restrictions, which could then lead to the reintroduction of quarantine after a short break. Belarus, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan gave preference to economic development, and therefore humanitarian factors faded into the background. The COVID-19 pandemic has increased the level of health literacy of the population and the value of medical supplies. Many people became familiar with the online entertainment industry, which paved the way for new content producers. Together with the transition of people to remote work, this has increased the demand for Internet traffic. Thoughts on the automation of production and courier services arose in society. These technologies will make the transfer to a post-industrial society possible, and the country that introduced them will be able to claim the title of a major player in the international arena. The COVID-19 pandemic has opened up new possibilities for a trade war that will lead to a strengthening of the regionalization process. This may provide an incentive for the development of regional integration associations. “Belt and Road” project runs the risk of suffering trade barriers and Western attempts to get rid of Chinese dependence, which the pandemic has demonstrated. The US sanctions policy can lead to the creation of financial systems without them, which has the potential to shake the Bretton Woods system.

COVID-19, CIS, pandemic, disease «X», quarantine

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