Lockdown Is Not The Time To Congregate Or Party
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
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By Linus Garg
First publised on 2020-03-23 22:01:00
About the Author
Linus tackles things head-on. He takes sides in his analysis and it fits excellently with our editorial policy. No 'maybe's' and 'allegedly' for him, only things in black and white.
View all posts by this Author
It has been reported that in many gated communities and apartment buildings, people are congregating in community halls or in any resident's flat and children are being allowed to play together in the common spaces. In short, people are ignoring the health advisory of self-isolation and treating this time of lockdown as a time to exchange notes, discuss problems or party. This after many such buildings and communities have introduced stringent measures such as asking milkmen, newspaper vendors and courier delivery persons to take their shoes off, wear masks and wash their hands, with sanitizers in some places, before entering the complexes.
People still do not understand that if they keep thinking that nothing will happen to them as they seem healthy and are meeting or congregating with other healthy people in their society, they are putting themselves and others at risk. This has nothing to do with people who seem healthy from outside. It has been repeatedly reported that the majority of the coronavirus cases have been asymptomatic - that is, initially, the infected person does not show any outward symptoms. Hence, even if the person you are meeting looks healthy to you, he might be carrying the virus and it might infect you. The whole purpose of the lockdown is to keep people isolated at home in order to break the chain of transmission and prevent community outbreak. Hence, meeting or congregating with a large number of people even in your building complex or society should be avoided.
Also, it has nothing to do with age. An impression has been created that only people above 60 or children below 10 are being infected. That is not true. Yes, people in those two age brackets are more vulnerable, but any and everyone can be infected. Viruses do not choose their victims by age. One teen has tested positive in West Bengal and singer Kanika Kapoor, who is 42, has also tested positive. In China and Italy, where maximum people have been infected to date, there is no evidence to suggest that youngsters were immune.
There are many ways one can engage oneself at home. This is a golden opportunity to spend some quality time with your family. Then, you can catch up with people you have not communicated with for a long time over the phone, email, WhatsApp or even video calls. You can do odd chores around the house or cook that dish you always wanted to. Set up a workout routine and try to keep yourself fit. Catch up on your reading, watch movies or shows or do serious research on a project that you were putting off for lack of time. Working from home is an option that is open to all. But meeting other people face to face is not a good option now. Isolation and being with immediate family members is what this entire exercise of breaking the chain of transmission is about. So people have to be responsible and adhere to that.
pic courtesy: jagran.com
