COVID-19: My Thoughts

Before you think, “Ugh, another blog post about coronavirus!” just hear me out. I don’t want to write a blog post that just includes facts and information. This blog post includes personal opinions and anecdotes. It also covers a few issues that have risen due to this pandemic.

“Coronaviruses are a large family of viruses which may cause illness in animals or humans.  In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the common cold to more severe diseases such as Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS). The most recently discovered coronavirus causes COVID-19.”

– World Health Organization [WHO]

The recent outbreak is of a specific type of coronavirus, known as COVID-19, and the number of cases is increasing day by day. As I write this post, there are a total of 414,031 cases, and the global death toll is currently at 18,543. By the time this will be posted, these numbers will have increased. The good news, however, is that 108,293 people have recovered. Now that we know some statistics, we need to talk about some important things.

All of us are well aware of the numerous memes and social media posts about the COVID-19 and the pandemic in general. Hell, even I have made a joke or two about being in self-quarantine. There is some useful information being shared online, but, along with that, there is a whole lot of misinformation being spread around as well. The other day, I read somewhere that if I am infected, taking a bath with very hot water twice a day will cure me. The World Health Organization has clearly stated that this is a myth.

As more and more people rely on the Internet to get information, we need to be extremely careful about what websites we check, what content we read, and what we believe in. The Internet is a great resource, but we cannot believe everything we read on it. We need to equip ourselves with the correct information and be vigilant, not just for ourselves, but for others too.

We also need to be extremely sensitive about what we say, post and do during this time. I have noticed many people being taunting people who “look Chinese” and being blatantly racist and downright violent towards them. Not only this, but people also assume that because of their physical features, they have COVID-19. This type of discrimination has gone to such an extent that individuals and their family members are constantly harassed. Along with this, there are also nasty rumors being spread about who has been affected and who has not. This type of behavior is not fair to anyone and must be stopped. It can seriously damage someone’s mental health, and can also result in the wastage of the limited testing kits.

It all boils down to verified information. The fact that you are reading this blog post means that you have the privilege of receiving information and spreading it on a bigger platform. My advice to you would be to be vigilant and break the chain of misinformation. Contribute to controlling the hysteria. Be the one who helps in stopping the virus from spreading. Be the bigger person, be the hero. Be your hero, be your loved one’s hero. If we all help each other we can stop the scenario from getting worse.

Here are some precautions that you can, and you must take:

1. Don’t step out of your house unless it is extremely urgent.
2. Wash your hands frequently.
3. Practice social distancing, whether there are no symptoms, or just one.
4. Avoid touching your face, eyes or your mouth.
5. Be correctly informed.

During times like this, it is normal to feel anxious or stressed. If you would like to talk to a professional, you can get free online counseling. Book an appointment using the following website:

https://www.beyondtherapy.in/bookings-checkout/covid-on-my-mind

I have also linked the official website of the World Health Organization if you would like some more information:

https://www.who.int/emergencies/diseases/novel-coronavirus-2019

Edited by Anika Garg