Will we ever know where the corona virus came from? Maybe only after it is convenient to be told or someone benefits from it. But we all know the life and livelihood costs of COVID-19 and the graphs that keep showing mirages. The first unforgiven was the spread of this disease through out the world. Its start from China, its race all over the globe and our fear of how long it would speed till the checkered flag. The virus killed humans, brought trade to knees and purged the ‘social’ trait from the ‘social animal’. History will not be kind to the origins of the virus, even if they plan to write it.
After Y2K, the end of the world had become a cliché. But, nothing is a cliché when it's happening to you. We are all swimming in the effects of the virus; collecting evidence has gotten old a few thousand deaths ago. The hope now is to get out of homes and reclaim the world. A few countries have started the opening up and all others are thinking about doing it soon. We too, have released the ‘graduated withdrawal of restrictions’ plan and are praying that the learning curve would be soft on us.
Experts fear that lifting those restrictions could start the process all over again. Since the movement of people caused the spread and the lockdowns merely delayed the peak, their logic appears sound. The second wave looks like the Judgment Day we have delayed, but is inevitable. Emotions aside, resilience and greatness of nations are as good as antibiotics and as we stand today, there is neither a potent vaccine nor an effective cure. The virus is not going anywhere. There are two main ways the virus can make a resurgence as residents emerge from their homes, return to work, take their children to school, and go shopping. First, a small number of residents who were under lockdown could still have the virus when restrictions lift but not know they're sick. Those people could then spread it, starting a new wave of infections. Second, international travellers could bring the virus back into the country and a churn of all this in the domestic sector will cause huge problems of containment till the antidote comes to rescue.
In a noisy democracy like ours, prudence hints towards self-empowerment and care over and above institutionalised programs. Freedom will mean discipline, our own actions of distancing, wearing masks, diligent hygiene and avoidance of the unnecessary will need to become muscle memory with even more added care towards the young and the old. But then these are just words, all of this went for a toss as the liquor vends opened up yesterday. Hysteria aside, people ignored all heed of self-protection advisories as if the wise Obi-Wan Kenobi himself gave them deflector shields when he said “May The 4th Be With You” (or something like that). Lessons from this opening, compounded by infection results in a few days, might make any reopening a hard choice and a very slow eventuality.
We have been suffering the worst from the first sin and it should be a crime to throw away the advantages of relaxed restrictions, but it surely will be cruel to contribute to the second wave. It's a rare chance given to us and taking the Blue Pill is not an option. Prioritise life. Take it slow.
PS: Credits to Metallica, Max Payne, Terminator, Star Wars, Churchill and Morpheus.
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