Does this make "Coronasense"?

Does this make “Coronasense” ?

I guess by now anyone who watches the numerous news channels, social media messages and videos or reads the newspapers, spouting doomsday prophesies ad nauseum, knows about this pandemic, how it began, how it spreads, which celebrity has contracted it and what is being done to contain it.

Some even tell you to wash your hands and not to keep touching your face.

Others quip, make memes, cartoons, and jokes about it.

Still others (and these are the worst in my book) spread fake news, lies, make ridiculous claims for cures (one wag advocates drinking cow urine, another 190 proof alcohol), or are just in denial.

As far as I’m concerned this threat is real and I suggest every person needs to contribute their mite, time and energies to take stringent measures not just to protect oneself, but also to help others.

Rather than depend on the authorities to step in

(they are also humans groping in the dark, while at the same time trying to fix the economy, create jobs, alleviate poverty and crime, keep their bosses happy, or maintain their positions of power) let each person get proactive and ask ourselves, “What can I do to help?” and “What can I do to keep this virus at bay?”.

Me, I’m just the ordinary middle-class retiree, not a celebrity, doctor, health expert, bureaucrat, politician (heaven-help) in the age which will henceforth be known as the pandemic of Covid-19.

I’ve survived my share of the common flu, mumps, measles, chicken pox, and the school bully.

I’m almost up to my threescore and ten lifespan, and pretty sure that I’ll make it provided I don’t get coughed or sneezed upon by this bunch of zealous party workers, even now, going from door to door canvassing for the zilla parishad elections.

But since I consider myself pretty sensible and logical, I try to use common sense and 

logic to figure out what I should do to keep myself safe, and I’m sharing this with you:

First things first ……

You’ve listened to the news and have a fair sense of what you are up against so stop listening, reading, viewing, keeping track of and discussing it like it’s the cricket score in the world cup series.

Instead…..Keep abreast of what the healthcare experts and scientists have to say (not celebs and politicians and shamans) and let logic and common sense decide your course of action.

Inform others about the danger and how they can keep themselves safe as well. This is especially true about the ill-informed, illiterate, uneducated and superstitious sections of our society, people you are in contact with, like your maid, driver, gardener, common labourers. Spread the word in language they understand. Convince them!!

It starts with you …..

Stop spitting in public, coughing or sneezing without covering your mouth and nose with your sleeve. Take your trash home. Educate others.  Continuing to do so otherwise, is akin to carrying a loaded gun.

Sanitise your daily use items, your phone, desktop, door knobs, table tops and in general your surroundings routinely.

As soon as you get home from work or the outside wash your face, hands and feet.

Change into fresh clothes frequently.

Bathe before going to bed; don’t take the days dust and dirt with you to accumulate in your sheets and pillows.

Stop non-essential travel even in your own transport

Stay away from crowds. If you have to take a bus or train, get into one that is not crowded.

Use a face mask (get it from a reliable source) if needed, even a clean handkerchief will do, but wash it out after.

If you see someone is unwell help, or try to get them to get help or report it.  

Go shopping only when necessary and for goodness sake don’t hoard – remember if someone who really needs stuff doesn’t get it, this could be the reason for the spread of the virus and not being able to contain it will suck big time.  

Take your holiday at home rather than at the mall. Spend time playing board games, have a sing-along, do a home project, or just chill with a good book or TV movie.

If you are in a position of authority:

Give sanitation workers gloves and protection and knowledge to help them stay safe.

Disinfect public transport with religious fervor.

Stop all gatherings, meetings and functions.

Try to make office, shop or factory timings flexible so that streets and public transport are not crowded.

Allow those who can work from home do so.

Have minimum person to person interaction.

Above all do not panic or add to the hysteria surrounding this pandemic, which just makes it worse.

Go about your daily routine in a calm, efficient and unobtrusive manner.

Be aware of your surroundings and mindful of others.

Stay safe and healthy.

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