The whole world is on edge over the Coronavirus outbreak that found everyone unprepared, but it was the manner of the response that distinguished the big boys from the novices.

China by far takes the medal, otherwise who else builds a thousand-bed hospital in less than a week? It was a feat only the Chinese could accomplish; kudos to them.

Countries have been responding to the crisis differently.

Rwanda took a pragmatic approach from the very beginning similar to the Ebola response. The Ministry of Health immediately met with members of the travel industry and put in place policies to make sure travellers are safe.

Since RwandAir flies to Guangzhou, it was only logical that flights are suspended to minimise the threat of the virus flying here.

But the Government should go a step further and make sure there is enough supply of surgical masks and disinfectants within reach, maybe at district levels at the beginning. Media campaigns similar to the Ebola and Avian Flu campaigns would also go a long way in sensitising the population without throwing them into a panic frenzy.

With close to 10,000 confirmed cases that have forced the World Health Organisation to declare it a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC), the highest alert by the world body, there is need for concern and diligence.