write a letter to the editor of a National daily sharing your views on the ongoing pandemic situation and the precautions that people must take in order to safeguard themselves from the adverse effects of Covid-19.Also,write about how people are showing a casual approach which needs to stop. You are Bharat/Bani,a resident of 251 Green park, New Delhi.
Answers
Answer:
Apropos the editorial, “Not a time to panic” (March 13), it is imperative to take action against the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic but we are fearing an apocalypse and reacting accordingly in sheer madness. Conferences and public events have been cancelled, weddings postponed and schools have been closed fearing the spread of the virus. Businesses did quite well out of the disease. The sales of respiratory masks, hand sanitisers, anti-fever medicines and similar drugs have skyrocketed. If we are to avoid the so-called ‘coronavirus apocalypse’, we need to be guided by evidence, science and collaboration, not hype, hyperbole and impulse.
Preventive measures
The focus now is only on containment, not prevention, especially with a vaccine still not in sight. Shutting down schools, cinemas, travel, etc. are short-term measures. These cannot continue for ever. The government and civic agencies should now focus on prevention, as any virus spreads through unclean environments and also destruction of environments. While there are rules and laws, implementation is extremely poor. So, we have garbage in public places, overflowing drains and sewage, polluted rivers and lakes and animals moving to human habitation. Forests and wildlife reserves are being destroyed to make way for highways, dams and resorts. Now, it is for the government to see how it can make India clean and green, rather than invite more such virus attacks.
Scientific outlook
We feel a deep sense of precariousness in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We realise how fragile and vulnerable we are to outbreaks of infectious diseases. It is as if we are suddenly blindsided and brought to a standstill by the pestilence. Unsure of what will happen next, we often take a deep breath to calm our racing pulses.
The prognosis is for more people to be affected by the affliction in the coming days. The steep economic downturn and concomitant loss of jobs and incomes, economic distress and lowered quality of life due to the pandemic deepens the all-round gloom. Whether COVID-19 poses an existential threat to the human race or not, it has certainly become a very serious global health crisis. It is spreading rapidly, assuming alarming proportions and causing a lot of psychological anxiety. It is of great comfort that COVID-19 is sparing children and over 98% of the patients recover. At the same time, we wish that old people too are not susceptible to the attack of the virus and all people recover.
A wide range of measures, from closure of borders, denial of visas, cancellation or postponement of sporting fixtures and cultural and religious events, suspension of tourism, ban on air travel, cancellation of hotel bookings, closure of schools and colleges, cinema halls, pubs, gymnasiums, museums, parks, resorts beaches and places of worship and pilgrimage, construction of more isolation units and screening and quarantining and conversion of homes into workplaces are some measures being taken to cut the transmission chain and contain the pandemic. ‘Social distancing’ or staying away from others prevents the transmission.
It is a novel experience to watch matches being played in empty stadiums without spectators or behind closed doors. The chance of ‘external survival’ of the virus in the hot climate is said to be slim; but it is yet to be proved conclusively. However, it is reassuring to hear from China that the pandemic will be ‘over by June’ if countries take concerted action.
The pandemic should promote global cooperation and collaboration, make us aware of the futility of fighting among ourselves and tame our aggressive instincts, result in reduction of manufacture of arms and ammunition and make us more scientific in our thinking and lifestyle.
Your Name......