We can stop corona

A quarter into the year 2020 and the world is experiencing its worst nightmare ever. There is no doubt that this year has been off to a bad start with devastating news coming from all corners of the world every single day.

2020 started off with an escalating conflict between the US and Iran which resulted in a plane crash killing 176 people on board, earthquakes in Turkey and the Caribbean, the worst locust swarm that East Africa has experienced in decades, Death of a world renowned basketball player in a chopper crash which also killed 8 others, A virus spreading around the world and infecting more each day, the biggest stock market collapse in recent years and all of this in just the first 3 months. Only god knows whats in store for us for the rest of the year. Sadly there are no encouraging signs visible with all that is going on around the world.

Whether it's the news that coronavirus may have spread from a meat market, or that climate change is contributing to the Australian bushfires, or that improper diplomacy resulted in escalating U.S.-Iran tensions, a sense that humanity is causing many of these events may add to the fear and upset. Human activity such as destruction of biodiversity, mining, hunting and logging has created conditions for deadly viruses that were locked by nature to emerge out in the open and has triggered many outbreaks in the recent years. We cut the trees; we kill the animals or cage them and send them to markets. We disrupt ecosystems, and we shake viruses loose from their natural hosts. When that happens, they need a new host. Often, we are it. By disrupting the natural world, humans have increased their own risk of epidemics.

If you see our recent past, outbreaks of animal-borne and other infectious diseases such as Ebola, SARS, bird flu and now Covid-19, caused by a novel coronavirus, are on the rise. These diseases have crossed into humans and its spread has also affected world economies. The spread of Coronavirus has already severed the flow of goods and people and has stalled economies. We're already staring at a recession which analysts are saying could be worse than 2008/09. The travel and leisure industry has already been impacted prompting mass layoffs, so is the aviation and the service industry and it is soon going to affect the other sectors too.

Coronavirus has become one of the biggest threats to humanity and it is because of our own doing. What we have only seen in movies is being scripted in front of our eyes daily. The impact of this global pandemic has been far and wide and has engulfed almost the entire planet.

By now I hope most of you know what is Coronavirus but will still mention it here.

Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) or SARS-CoV-2 is an infectious disease caused by a newly discovered coronavirus.

Most people infected with the COVID-19 virus will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and recover without requiring special treatment.  Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like cardiovascular disease, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease, and cancer are more likely to develop serious illness.

The best way to prevent and slow down transmission is be well informed about the COVID-19 virus, the disease it causes and how it spreads. Protect yourself and others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol based rub frequently and not touching your face.

The COVID-19 virus spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes, so it’s important that you also practice respiratory etiquette (for example, by coughing into a flexed elbow).

At this time, there are no specific vaccines or treatments for COVID-19. However, there are many ongoing clinical trials evaluating potential treatments across the world.

As I write this post more than half a million people around the world have been infected and over 30 thousand people have died. Most countries have acted late which is why there has been such a surge in the number of people getting infected and this is not going to stop anytime soon.

As the coronavirus continues its march around the world, governments have turned to proven public health measures, such as social distancing, to physically disrupt the contagion. Countries have imposed travel restrictions and many have gone into lockdown to curb the spread of this deadly disease. INDIA has also announced a lockdown of 21 days hoping to slow the spread. We all need to learn from what has happened in Italy, Iran, Spain and the US. From what I've been seeing, we've been taking this lockdown very lightly. The call for Janata curfew was a very good one and to my surprise people also adhered to it by remaining in their homes for a good part of the day. Pics and videos of people showing gratitude from their rooftops and balconies by clapping for the doctors, nurses, our policemen and also the municipal corporation workers who are working tirelessly to keep us safe made me feel proud. What shocked me were the visuals of stupid educated people out on the streets celebrating the Janata curfew by playing garba and nashik dhol defeating the entire purpose of what the Janata curfew was meant for. Protestors at Shaheen bagh also added to the dilemma of the authorities who had to use force to disperse them for their own good.

The numbers in INDIA are very low compared to what we've been seeing around the world and this is not because we have fewer infected but because of the testing process. This is because of the lack of testing kits and the fear of many to disclose and come out in the open. Many people are scared of quarantine and afraid to get themselves tested. This is just a tip of the iceberg and as the testing time reduces and the kits become more accessible this number is going to swell and grow exponentially.

I am really surprised that political parties and individuals are looking at this lockdown in a political way. We as citizens should abide by the law and adhere to what the government tells us. This is for our own good. Many people are not taking this lockdown seriously and knowingly or unknowingly spreading this disease. People are looking it with the religious angle. Many still continue to go to places of worship even after the government ordering them to close down. I would request the educated people in all these religions to explain the seriousness of this situation to their counterparts. God is not going to come to save you if you happen to contract this disease. You will start running towards hospitals and they would not have anybody to tend to you since they would already be overwhelmed by that time if you see what has happened in Italy. Given our population and the medical facilities it would be really difficult to tackle this situation so we cannot let it go out of control.

Remember folks, This is not a VACATION. I humbly request everyone to please stay at home for your own good and others around you and for the largest interest of the nation.

I would also like to request our great Sadhus, Sadhvis, Babas, Maulvis, Pastors and Priests who call themselves healers to pay these patients a visit and use their mystical powers to heal them. They're needed now much more than ever. I would request their followers to simply throw them between the sick and infected so that they can heal them quickly. Let the world see their powers. People who blindly believe such individuals should understand that they're nothing and cannot do anything. They just fool people to convert them.

I would also condemn landlords/housing societies/communities that are mistreating our doctors/nurses/Pilots/Crew members and pressurizing them to vacate because of the fear of contracting the virus. Remember it is these doctors and nurses who will take care of you if you get infected. It is these pilots and crew members who put their lives in danger and bring you back to safety. Please respect them.

Over the last few months many INDIANS from affected countries have been flown back to the safety of their homes, many of whom who regularly criticize the same government. We should atleast commend the efforts of the government to bring its people back in times of crisis. Many who see greener pastures abroad have returned back to the country to be with their loved ones during these testing times. Many of them have not been tested yet.
There are many migrant laborers who have had to make a difficult decision to move back to their villages/towns because of the lockdown and the economic uncertainty. Many of them are stranded around the country at bus stations or train stations or have even been forced to walk long distances. These people have been traveling without adequate food and water and the lockdown is making things worse for them. These people could also potentially be harboring the virus and could infect the rest of the country. The government should provide them with adequate facilities and try to quarantine them too.

Many people who live on a daily income are having to deal with surging prices of daily goods and groceries and have been severely affected. It has become very difficult for them to survive without any income. Many NGO's have come forward to feed these people and the government is also trying to help them out. Some dairies and grocery vendors have come forward to provide free food to those affected and there are many who have started hoarding and charging exorbitant prices. They have lost their humanity. The government needs to control these illegal activities.

The people in the Northeast are increasingly facing racism and discrimination in the rest of the country since the outbreak of the coronavirus. Apart from being called “Momos”, “Chinese”, “Chinki”, these people were spat on and called “coronavirus”, forcibly quarantined despite showing no COVID-19 symptoms because of their looks, denied entry into the apartment complexes, forced to leave the apartment, threatened with eviction from their apartment, forced to leave a restaurant to make others comfortable, none wanting to share transport with them. Racism against the people of the Northeast has for long gone unchecked and has sometimes even been encouraged. We as a country need to understand the culture, history and demography of the Northeast and start treating them with respect. We as INDIANS have a social responsibility to evolve and correct our ways. Just because someone looks different doesn't mean that they're a disease. People who indulge in such activities are a bigger threat to society than Corona itself. Requesting everyone to please refrain from treating our Northeast brothers and sisters differently. Please respect them just like you respect your family and friends.

The whole world is counting on our scientists and doctors in this difficult time to quickly find a cure. It is during these trying times we as humans should introspect and think whether we should be spending more on hospitals, education, health care or in building religious institutions or weapons.

We as a country should all come together and contribute towards the needs of the nation. Our superstars in the south have shown the way and have contributed towards the relief funds in their own states and also the national relief fund. Some Bollywood stars have also followed them and have started contributing. Businesses have also answered the call with Mr. Ratan Tata leading the way and I hope everyone who is capable donates generously to the greater good.

The lockdown around the world has already resulting in choking economic activities and putting countries at risk. There's a high risk of another wave of infections meaning that the countries that acted relatively quickly could also be affected again. What remains to be seen is how the governments act and what policy changes they make to protect the people and bring them out of this adversity. The US has already announced a stimulus package and so has INDIA. Only time will tell whether they will be effective enough to put us back on track.

The coronavirus crisis marks the first time that most people alive right now have ever lived through this type of collective, bond-forming, global experience. One of the reasons it’s generating cooperation is that the narrative is super straightforward: There is a common enemy (this extremely contagious virus) that endangers everyone, particularly the old and the already-ill. Everyone knows, more or less, what they’re supposed to do to defeat it at this point: Stay inside, keep your distance from other people, keep your hands clean and off pretty much everything.

The only good thing to come out of all this is that it has given Mother nature a breather and some time to heal herself. Pollution levels have dropped to historically low levels and the air we breathe has become fresher, the wildlife has started returning. It has also shown that we as humans can collectively work towards changing our lifestyles for the greater good of humanity and also the planet. It also shows that we can also solve climate change together if we all treat it as one common enemy.


Remember, Difficult times never last. Together we can and we will. After every storm comes a rainbow.

Jai Hind _/\_

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