Corona Virus as a Homeland Security Threat

Corona Virus as a Homeland Security Threat

Question One

Covid-19 involves a disease family that varies from the common cold to severe acute respiratory syndromes. According to WHO, covid-19 also results in Middle East syndrome. Chiefly, Covid-19 is commonly referred to as Coronavirus by different people. The virus is common in animals and it may infect humans if they come into contact with the animals, maybe through petting or meat. Coronavirus is highly infectious and people should seek the necessary practices to prevent infection. On December 31, 2019, the Chinese government reported to the World Health Organization that they were having weird cases of pneumonia (Regan et al., 2020). Coronavirus has posed a range of threats to homeland security.

Question Two

Different news stories have agreed that Coronavirus is a department of homeland security (D.H.S.) concern. According to the Gulf Times (2020), it is estimated that more than 300 homeland security employees have tested positive for Coronavirus. Also, more than 8500, of the homeland security employees are under quarantine due to the possibility of exposure to the virus. The outbreak of the pandemic has sidelined homeland security as an agency as there is increased struggle to respond to the virus (Fuchs, 2020). The number of the sick and infected employees of the homeland security, suggests increased amounts over time as the department is helping in mobilization against the disease in various states. The men and women in D.H.S. take risks daily to protect the safety of American citizens.

Different articles agree that governments are scrambling to address the spread of the virus and to keep the economy safe. Moreover, by doing so, they forget to address the health and national security issues arising from the spread of the virus (Mayberry et al., 2020). The D.H.S. continues to face a wide variety of national security risks that occur as a result of the Coronavirus and response to it (Corera, 2020). Besides, the virus could drive instability as people will escape the countries that are unable to deal with the illness. Also, the Coronavirus could drive cybercriminals to cyber-attacks which are aimed at keeping the economy and essential functions at crises. The D.H.S. officials are consumed with responding to the Coronavirus and leaving less time to respond to the existing conflicts, especially wars in the Middle East.

Question Three

News articles agree that the coronavirus pandemic has posed a lot of security issues to America. According to Bennett and Perez (2020), security threats have been spread to the point that Fauci needs to be guarded by security at all times as people have been targeting his life. When the epidemic began, the U.S. was quick to advise all its citizens against traveling to China, which affected their relationship (B.B.C., 2020). Belluck and Weiland (2020), agree that security threats are expected and the D.H.S. should be prepared for those threats. I believe that people will continually mistrust each other due to fear of infections and desperate measures will be put into place.

As the pandemic continues to spread, different countries will put measures that will anger other countries. The continued quarantine without any work will make people result in crime to get money, such as cybercrimes and other forms of crimes for money (CNN Editorial Research, 2020). Some people believe that Coronavirus is a bioweapon that was established to fight off enemies incase of war. The result is that countries continue to be wary of each other, which may result in a cold war (The New York Times, 2020). The military and other D.H.S. employee’s primary concern is curbing the pandemic, leaving a window for security threats and attacks.

Bibliography

B.B.C. (2020, January 31). U.S. advises against all travel to China over virus. B.B.C. News. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51316915

Belluck, P., & Weiland, N. (2020, February 25). C.D.C. Officials warn of coronavirus outbreaks in the U.S. The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/02/25/health/coronavirus-us.html

Bennett, K., & Perez, E. (2020, April 2). Nation’s top coronavirus expert Dr. Anthony Fauci forced to beef up security as death threats increase. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/04/01/politics/anthony-fauci-security-detail/index.html

CNN Editorial Research. (2020, April 2). Coronavirus outbreak timeline fast facts. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/2020/02/06/health/wuhan-coronavirus-timeline-fast-facts/index.html

Corera, G. (2020, April 2). How Coronavirus will change national security. B.B.C. News. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-52122991

Fuchs, M. H. (2020, March 18). The U.S. will continue to face national security threats – and must be prepared | Michael H Fuchs. the Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/17/us-national-security-threats-coronavirus-attacks-prepared

Gulf Times. (2020, February 11). Coronavirus ‘imminent threat’ as cases rise: Govt. Gulf-Times. https://www.gulf-times.com/story/655603/Coronavirus-imminent-threat-as-cases-rise-govt

Mayberry, K., Pietromarchi, V., & Siddiqui, U. (2020, March 9). Threat of coronavirus pandemic ‘very real’: Live updates. Breaking News, World News and Video from Al Jazeera. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/03/italy-coronavirus-toll-soars-north-sealed-live-updates-200308235426110.html

The New York Times. (2020, April 1). After threats, Anthony Fauci to receive enhanced personal security. The New York Times – Breaking News, World News & Multimedia. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/04/01/us/politics/coronavirus-fauci-security.html

Regan, H., Yeung, J., George, S., & Woodyatt, A. (2020, January 30). January 29 coronavirus news. CNN. https://edition.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-01-29-20-intl-hnk/index.html