Like another part
of the world, we were reading, listening to the news from Chinese people at the
end of 2019 but gradually these data and cases entered in other countries as we
entered the New Year 2020, and in March the whole world is terrified by its
spread and consequences. The coronavirus that emerged in the city of Wuhan,
China, last year and has since caused a large scale Coronavirus epidemic.
Coronavirus is continuing its spread across the world, with about 2.8 million
confirmed cases in 185 countries. At least 197,500 people have died.
Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses that can cause illnesses ranging
widely in severity.
I am staying in the
Eastern Province of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and I was feeling quite safe
and calm until I heard that all schools are urgently closed in mid of
examinations on the 9th of march midnight notice that students should stay at
home until the next order. Even CBSE Board exams stopped with an order by the health ministry and now it is stressful for students and parents by thinking
academic future.
And it was just
beginning, till mid of march it is the mall, theatres, markets, offices,
flights, buses, taxies all closed except essentials like supermarkets and
pharmacies. It was a stressful situation when we heard that since 23rd march a
curfew imposed and all those who violate the curfew implemented in Saudi Arabia
from 7 p.m. until 6 a.m. for the next 21 days will be fined 10,000 riyals and could
face jail time if they repeatedly break the law, the Kingdom’s Ministry of
Interior announced. Residents in all areas and cities not currently under a
24-hour lockdown and they are allowed to go out between 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. during
the Muslim holy month, However, areas under a complete lockdown will only be
allowed to go out for essential needs, such as grocery shopping or medical
visits, between the hours of 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Residents in these areas must
stay within their neighborhoods. A 24-hour lockdown was previously imposed on
the cities of Riyadh, Tabuk, Dammam, Dhahran, and Hofuf and throughout the
governorates of Jeddah, Taif, Qatif, and Khobar.
People like me were
reading and watching news globally and in India on 24 March, the Government of
India ordered a nationwide lockdown for 21 days, limiting movement of the
entire 1.3 billion population of India as a preventive measure. India shut its
$2.9 trillion economies, closing its businesses and issuing strict stay-at-home
orders to more than a billion people. Air, road, and rail transport systems
were suspended. It was quick to close its international borders and enforce an
immediate lockdown, which WHO praised as “tough and timely”. It was ordered
after a 14-hour voluntary public curfew on 22 March, followed by enforcement of
a series of regulations in the country's COVID-19 affected regions.
As a viewer of
Indian TV channels, it was painful to witness so many labors on road trying to
return their native places by walk. Over 80% of the country’s migrant and daily
wage population fears it will run out of food before the end of the lockdown,
on April 14. India’s coronavirus outbreak and the ongoing 21-day lockdown to
contain it has shone a spotlight on the hard life of its seasonal migrants. Nearly
as many also worry that they will not be able to find work once the lockdown
ends, then the lockdown date was increased to 2nd May in India. In India
doctors and police who are front foot, worriers were attacked by the public in
few places because of misunderstanding, which was disappointing to watch and
high condemned. Thankfully such cases are not recorded herein Kingdom at my
end.
As cases started
increasing day by day, now it's like a panic situation on a global platform and
more buzz on social media, online groups, and neighborhood and friends all over
the counties emotionally connected with electronic gadgets and maintaining
physical and social distances, no more tea party or dinner get together among
friends and relatives. Now we started getting do’s and don’ts according to
everyone’s knowledge by discussing online. As the virus and suffering were new
so, there are so many trial and error type situations for everyone. All new and
different studies were creating more anxiety and panic day by day. People were
started creating fake reasons for spreading the virus and its remedies and rumors are on peak. So it
was necessary to study reliable website of World health organization to know
exactly about that.
According to WHO,
most people infected will experience mild to moderate respiratory illness and
recover without requiring special treatment. The best way to prevent and slow
down transmission is to be well informed about it. The disease it causes, and
how it spreads. It spreads primarily through droplets of saliva or discharge
from the nose when an infected person coughs or sneezes.
At this time, there
are no specific vaccines or treatments for it. However, many ongoing clinical
trials are evaluating potential treatments. It’s time to protect yourself and
others from infection by washing your hands or using an alcohol-based rub or
sanitizer, frequently and not touching
your face, going out by wearing face masks and hand gloves.
In this situation,
social gathering is restricted and all have to stay home. Unsurprisingly,
people all over the world who are quarantined are very likely to develop a wide
range of symptoms of psychological stress and disorder, including low mood,
insomnia, stress, anxiety, anger, irritability, emotional exhaustion,
depression, and post-traumatic stress symptoms. Low mood and irritability
specifically stand out as being very common, the study notes.
We started feeling
fear by our helper who used to come in the evening for house cleaning work and
cases were increasing from camps as laborers used to share rooms and don't care
much about their hygiene and social distancing. So we had instructed our house
cleaner not to come until everything gets normal.
Children are at
home because of a sudden school closer. All men too were managing an office by
work from home, so in every house, one room has turned into an office’s corner
or working man’s zone and online classrooms or virtual school for students.
All of us aware of
two terms now ‘lockdown’ which means a state of isolation or restricted access
instituted as a security measure and ‘Quarantine’ strict isolation imposed to
prevent the spread of disease, a period of detention or isolation imposed upon
persons on arrival at a place when suspected of carrying some infectious or
contagious disease. This is the system of measures maintained by every
governmental authority globally for preventing the spread of disease concerned
with such measures. Now the whole world is aware and experienced this
quarantine period and lockdown in the initial months of 2020 on the common
reason for the Coronavirus.
TV channels,
newspapers, social media like WhatsApp, Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter
started talking about it loudly and giving details. Looking at its impact
worldwide as a common human, firstly, I too felt that the world is ending now and high
death rates make me feel that I will too die in the same way. It was horrified
to think that I am unable to see my loved ones again as I stay out of my own
country, India, away from my closed ones.
This gradually
these circumstances leading depression among many of us, even those who have
not been infected by the virus will choose to quarantine in our homes for weeks
and months. Few were canceling travel plans, indefinite isolation, panic over
scarce resources, fearful for losing jobs, working on a low salary, insecure
academic career, losing patience on partners, fearful for survival, etc. 'The
Great Lockdown is the worst economic downturn since the Great Depression, and
far worse than the Global Financial Crisis International Monetary Fund (IMF),
said Chief Economist Gita Gopinath' which really matters of worry.
At the same time, a
few of us remain positive at this epidemic situation they are calm that there
is no more rushing in daily life or overburden of work, few are happy that they
are spending time with family which they always miss and few divert themself
towards creative activities.
In this changed the situation, all house workloads came at housewives' shoulders, for taking care
of everyone's time to time snacks to food, cleaning to managing food items,
engaging everyone in different tasks, studies, online classes, and indoor games
without losing their mental balance and physical strength. Washing hands is now
the passionate psychic condition of each being to remain germ-free and to
protect from viruses.
Ladies' morning
starts from checking different social groups on social media, of course online
to connect and to share common problems and to discuss solutions according to
their knowledge and experience.
Now distance
learning or working from home became endure and substitute for old-school
learning. Video calling to loved ones is the only survival as we can’t meet
them personally. Platforms like Whatapp, Line, IMO, Zoom, and Skype to hold
virtual happy hour to see our friends and family members who are away from us.
Most mothers
started arranging enough stationary material to host a daily drawing class to
engage their kids and taking their help in baking, cooking, house cleaning to
sick their help and engaging, and making children independent. The husband too
realized the value of home management and became an active part of that in
participating in cleaning, cooking, and playing with children.
Fitness and
maintaining health, during this period are becoming a big issue, so for mental
and physical health meditation, prayers, exercises, and yoga are becoming an essential part of life, within four walls.
Learning a new
craft and reliving hobby became creative time pass with inner satisfaction for
everyone and sharing on social media and getting appreciation is becoming
motivating for everyone.
Few people started
looking at their old photographs and started sharing with their loved ones
through gadgets and reviving their beautiful memories, which was left untouched
because of busy schedules.
Old people picked
their all-time favorite knitting by dusting their dumped yarn while talking
with their grandchildren which are available 24/7 with them. Play board, card
games, chess become popular family games to kill hours with lots of fun and
family bonding.
Authors got
peaceful isolation to pen their next creation and readers got time to read the book which they were missing for a long time.
Cooking skills
became sharper for all mothers as they have to fulfill food and snack’s demands
of their kids. They used to see what they have in the pantry and
whip up a new meal to see everyone happy. Those who locked down alone with no
helper too learned how to clean and maintain their houses and to cook for their
survival.
When few among us
we're struggling with anxiety, stress, depression because of social distancing
or hunger or fear of losing a job or working on a low salary in the future or
being locked in houses at the same time few of us were suffering by illness,
fighting with death, losing their loved ones.
In this period our
front foot worriers like doctors, nursing staff, security officers, cleaning
workers and essentials suppliers are doing remarkable jobs and also those people
who used to come out of the house to feed hungry humans and animals as they
value their life too and come up as superheroes of every society and got
appreciated and admired, few had lost their lives and few suffered by illness
but they dare to serve humanity, salute to all these people.
Today till 27th
April 2020, here in kingdom COVID-19 cases are 18,811 and globally these are
2,981,592, still, I am hopeful that everything will be normal soon. I am at
peace state of mind no rushing day after alarm's sound, no more fakeness to
pleasing society, devoting my time in the house, family, my pet and plants, and
creativity. I feel more religious and spiritual and praying for humanity. Hopefully, with time, life would come back to normal and we will be
back to our normal lifestyle and feel happy as we are addicted to that
but with some experiences to valuing life, Mother Nature, and relationships.
We know that none
of the worldly things or circumstances could compensate those who lost their
lives or their loved ones by this coronavirus. While crying for boredom we
should not forget the pain and suffering of humanity because of this and
sincere prayers for all humans in this difficult time.
