Take a break earthlings ! @coronavirus
That’s what the deadly virus’s tweet would shout out, if it could.
As per the statistics shared by worldometers.info website as on date 174,075 cases have been identified while 6,684 people have died so far. The corona COVID-19 that was detected in Wuhan city in China has spread far and wide affecting 160 nations across the globe. A month later after its detection, on 30 January 2020, the pneumonia of unknown cause was declared a public health emergency of international concern. And the pandemic has taken a monumental shape as countries like Italy and Spain have gone for nationwide lockdown, Syrian parliamentary elections stand now postponed, the airline industry is observing major slump in an already depressing business, movies screenings, sporting events and major events stand cancelled apart from slow down all over the world.
Who would have thought that the pandemic affecting human race as depicted in various Hollywood movies would become a scary reality, so soon. In this brouhaha, the kids who are happily running around the home talk of Hollywood inspired reality of our lives. And then they mug out names, like I would want them to mug out tables, giving story line of popular movies that had depicted the horror similar to one we are witnessing today. Suddenly I learn about Resident evil series where humans turn into zombies after viral attack or Gwyneth Paltrow starrer Contagion or World war Z starring Brad Pitt showcasing zombie apocalypse.
The social media too is bombarded with memes, information, videos and latest updates on the virus. In every possible family, friends, society, kitty or office WhatsApp or telegram group you would come across some message or meme, almost all round the day, constantly reminding you to be alert. No other news in recent times kept hogging limelight for such a long stretch of time as this pandemic has. Whatsapp and other social media sites are providing unsolicited gyan on how to contain the disease. Suddenly a simple yet important hygiene element has become big deal with hygiene products like soaps and sanitizers flying off the shelf like never before. In various business groups there is unprecedented demand of face masks running in thousands with the otherwise slow-moving product suddenly getting the spotlight and catapulting into a much in demand item. The growing supply – demand gap of these masks, which showed some sign of upward trend during smog in Delhi after Diwali and severe winters, is indicator of a gloomy tomorrow. With ‘namaste’ taking over hand shakes, barren streets which bustled with people some time back, lockdown of various institutions it’s our sad reality.
However, there’s always a silver lining in the darkest of hours.
It’s time for earthlings to slow down. Read a book, plant some greens, catch up that show which you missed due to busy schedule, stir up some dish in your neglected kitchen, pick up the phone and connect with loved ones, or simply lie down and breathe. And if you think that the virus has quarantined us, cutting our vital dose of social interaction in real world then one must watch the heartwarming video, now trending in social media and making news across the world, of highly spirited people residing in a housing block of Naples city, in southern Italy who collectively sung ‘’Abbracciame’ (meaning ‘Hug Me’). Similar solidarity was shown by quarantined citizens in Wuhan, China. Cuba has allowed docking of virus hit British cruise ship despite having tumultuous diplomatic terms in the past. If social distancing is the need of hour, its solidarity that will pull humanity out of this chaos. The virus has slowed us down, but the spirits are as high as ever, more so in a unified voice.
So, not-so novel corona, you’ve spread out far and wide shutting us, but that has reminded us of a highly connected world which will fight you out.
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