— Ariba Neyaz
New Delhi, March 28. The Corona virus has demolished the class difference. Over a span of a few months the pandemic has spread like a wildfire without caring for economic and physical boundaries. A large number of celebrities including top politicians such as British Prime Minister Boris Johnson, Prince Charles, Prince Albert of Monaco, UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries and U.S. Senator Paul Rand have been tested positive.
PM Boris Johnson is the latest celebrity and the most senior politician who was found infected with the virus. This comes in the backdrop of news that the lethal virus has made inroads into the British Royal family as, 71-year old Prince Charles tested positive. Lately, the number of infected cases has increased sharply in the country–death toll rose to 759 on Friday.
Started from Wuhan City of China, this highly contagious virus has taken more than 180 countries into its grip. The developed nations like USA, Italy, UK, Spain, Australia and New Zealand have been overwhelmed by it. The deadly virus has exposed all the claims of advancement in medical field. The fact that the rich and powerful are falling prey to this pandemic leaves common people traumatized.
The list of celebrities infected by COVID-19 continues to grow. Begona Gomez, the wife of the Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has been tested positive, recently. More than 10% of the Spanish doctors and nurses are said to have been infected with the virus. In deadliest hours between Saturday and Monday, 800 people lost their battle to this pandemic. According to the recent data, there are 51,224 active cases of covid -19 in Spain out of which 4,165 are said to be in critical condition. “Worst is yet to come” said the Spanish Prime minister Pedro Sanchez.
In Brazil, senate President Dari Alcolumbre, Mining and Energy minister Bento Albuquerque and national security Minister Augusto Heleno were tested positive. Until now, 17 people who accompanied Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro on a trip to US, have got infected. In the meantime, the Brazilian President sparked a controversy when he termed the social distancing measures, closure of businesses and schools, a “scorched earth” policy. On Tuesday, in a televised address, he called on mayors and governors to rollback the restrictions which are placed to curb the spread of deadly virus.
Various other politicians including Peter Dutton, Australian home affairs minister, Susan McDonald, a senator from the Liberal National Party in Queensland, Fabio Wajngarten, the press secretary of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau have contracted with the fatal bug.
Many popular faces of the entertainment industry have confirmed that they have fallen victim to the deadly disease. With the number of infected people reaching in millions worldwide, celebrities and common people alike, are going for isolation.
Tom Hanks, an actor with millions of fan following worldwide, earlier this month, announced that he and his wife, actress and singer Rita Wilson, also got infected with the virus in Australia.
Indira Varma, an Indian origin ‘Game of Thrones’ star has also been tested positive. She played the role of Ellaria Sand in the highly popular HBO series. Similarly, numerous other celebrities like Olga Kurylenko, who starred in 2008 James Bond film, Quantum of Solace, British actor and musician, Idris Elba and actress Rachel Matthews, who voiced a character in Frozen- 2 have been tested positive.
The Covid-19 has virtually taken over the world, making us realise that materialistic achievements are nothing but an artificial cover to our dreams. The only way we can win over this virus is to break the chain of its transmission, which, in today’s interconnected world, is proving very difficult.
