For Jack Ma, There Is A Positive Side To The COVID-19 Outbreak

Jack Ma (Photo: Twitter @AlibabaGroup)

JAKARTA - Jack Ma, founder of Alibaba believes that the COVID-19 outbreak in China can provide opportunities for entrepreneurs to equip themselves and prepare for better progress when the outbreak has subsided.

Previously, the SARS outbreak in 2003 prompted Alibaba to launch Taobao, the most popular online shopping site in China. At that time, the country was in isolation during a national outbreak of severe acute respiratory syndrome known as SARS. Today, Taobao is the world's largest e-commerce website.

Meanwhile, Jack Ma, who also invests in Hupan College in Hangzhou, told his students to find direction in the midst of the crisis and change currently sweeping the bamboo curtain country.

"Think about what you really want, what you have and what you have to give up and obey," said Ma in a video lecture at Hupan College, Hangzhou as quoted by the South China Morning Post, Sunday, February 23.

Not to be missed, Ma also reminded his students to learn digital work methods and adopt more internet technology. To that end, Ma remains optimistic that the COVID-19 outbreak will quickly subside around the world.

The local government has also banned business operations in dozens of cities in China, as well as forcing residents to stay at home and avoid going outside.

"With the safety and prevention requirements of the coronavirus, it is certain that companies approved (by the authorities) must restore production quickly, or do so steadily," added Ma.

Previously, to help scientists develop and find a vaccine for COVID-19, Jack Ma had donated 100 million yuan or around Rp. 190 billion through his foundation.

Meanwhile, not only Jack Ma sees the positive side of the COVID-19 outbreak in China, according to an Ars Technica report, the positive impact can be seen from reduced air pollution. Where the presence of the virus is able to reduce CO2 levels by as much as 100 million tons in two weeks.

The reduction in CO2 levels did not escape the shutdown of all factories in China. Not a few factories have been closed temporarily to prevent the spread of this virus. In addition, restrictions on air travel also reduce CO2 levels as well. It is known that the public and private transportation sectors also contribute to creating CO2 emissions.

Satellite monitoring also revealed that NO2 levels in China fell dramatically by 39 percent in the last two weeks, when compared to last year. In fact, this is good news for those with respiratory infections, as NO2 is the cause of lung disease and premature death from diesel emissions that cost 38,000 victims.

Behind this positive impact, it is not proportional to the negative impact, where many families, relatives and friends have become victims of the COVID-19 outbreak, even medical personnel including doctors are also victims.

For further information, currently the death toll from COVID-19 is recorded at 2,120 people, while those who are infected have reached 75,291 people. The number of patients who were declared cured has increased, namely 14,452 people in China.