Even governments are not immune to xenophobia. Many governments’ knee-jerk reaction to epidemics is to close borders to non-citizens. While limiting people’s mobility is a necessary epidemiological measure to stop transmission, singling out non-citizens through travel bans is not. Citizens are equally likely to be virus-carriers as non-citizens. But states’ obligation to protect their citizens outweigh epidemiological facts - facts which tell us that travel restrictions often do more harm than good because they prevent doctors and medical help from reaching affected areas. Bans also cause infected people to preemptively flee, causing further spread. This exacerbated the COVID-19 crisis in China, and more destructively, in Italy. Moreover, international travel restrictions delay outbreaks very modestly: in China, bans delayed the outbreak by just 3-5 days, and elsewhere in the world, by approximately two weeks, most transmissions occurring internally.
Despite faring better than other western countries, Canada has also shut its borders to non-citizens and asylum-seekers. But Canada’s own history reveals a more just and effective response: during SARS, Canada did not close borders but introduced various screening measures for international travelers. Widespread testing is undoubtedly the way to contain COVID-19 fairly and effectively. Early detection through testing, hand washing, self-isolation, and household quarantine are far more effective in mitigating pandemics than travel restrictions.
COVID-19 has brought many societal tensions into sharp relief. The global disparity between rich and poor nations; the gaping divide between the haves and have-nots even in the world’s most powerful country; the oscillation of power between populism and the political establishment; Islamophobia and other forms of xenophobia are but some examples. However, we also have before us numerous opportunities: as scholars, to take stock of what we know and find new directions for research; and as citizens and nationals, to reach out in transnational solidarity. The path forward is yet uncharted. The question is, where do we go from here?
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