In this post, PhD researcher Lize Swartz and ISS alumna Josephine Valeske how the story that is emerging amid the chaos of the coronavirus has failed to draw attention to the effect of the virus on low-income groups, making visible a radio silence on the plight of those in the Global South in particular.
The authors argue that it is essential to break the silence to ensure the implementation of inclusive responses and a widening of the narrative beyond that of the privileged.
The coronavirus is threatening to sharpen divides both intra- and internationally, not only revealing differences in adaptive capacity based primarily on socio-economic circumstances that affect individual responses to the virus, but also highlighting ignorance regarding the constant high level of exposure of vulnerable groups to communicable diseases. The very silence about these inequalities perpetuates them. Strong responses are sorely needed, including ongoing pressure to ensure that interventions are inclusive and target vulnerable groups first instead of focusing on the business sector.
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