Anish Ghimire

It was mid-January when I first heard about some virus that had originated in China. Like every other news, I paid little attention to it. A couple of months later it was becoming kind of a big deal. I think COVID-19 grabbed my attention when one fine morning our teacher announced that Italy was under full lockdown. That was the first time I came to know about the phenomenon called, “nation-wide lockdown”.
Slowly things were put to a halt, our routine activity was disrupted and suddenly we found ourselves inside our homes fearing our own lives. At that time the casualties around the world were tremendous but not so around us. We sat in front of the TV watching news as we were eagerly drawn to the happenings around the world. “Will the virus come to Nepal?” we asked each other. “How does it spread? From where did it originated?” there were all sorts of questions.

Big Question
Perhaps even the bigger question was when the lockdown will be lifted? At that time the physical impact was measurable but mental impact was at large. Why? Because it was a new thing for people, we had situations like these in the movies or stories. As it was happening in front of their eyes it was hard to grasp the gravity of the reality. Months passed and slowly people got used to it. Suddenly the deadly virus, also said by some the biggest global disaster after the Second World War, became routine. It wasn’t a new thing anymore. We decided to come out of our houses, go places and hide from the police as we ran on the road.
I remember a couple of months ago being chased down by police for playing gully cricket in front of my home. So since then I stayed put and didn’t go outside. One day my mother sent me to get a gas cylinder from the local shop, I got out of the house because I had to, as I got out I couldn’t believe my eyes. People were in large numbers roaming around the road. I asked myself are we in nation-wide lockdown? There was no social distancing and from their faces, it seemed like there was no caution either. Just like I said, the virus had become routine, not a new thing anymore.
But does that mean it is getting less dangerous? Of course not, it is just as fatal as it was before. The amount of risk we carry as we step out is probably the biggest risk we can take with our life as of now. I wondered why people around me weren’t as aware as they should have been. And why with the knowledge of fatal virus we still didn’t practice necessary precautions?

No Lockdown
Time passed, suddenly the lockdown was lifted. That was an official announcement from the government but for many of us, the lockdown had ended long ago. Vehicular and people’s movement was on the run much before the lockdown had ended. Now, in my point of view, the challenge is even large. Before the lockdown was put at a stop, the movement of people was restricted and the risk wasn’t zero but small. Since people are now allowed to move and almost all public places are exposed, we as humans tend to move around. More movement invites a greater risk of the virus.
As of now, the physical impact of COVID-19 is large and increasing but the mental impact is at its lowest. I’ve myself heard people saying phrases like “this is nothing, nothing will happen,” “we can’t stay at home forever,” “we cannot meet our friends and have fast foods,” This is what I mean when I say the virus has now become routine. Our country is indeed slightly less infected than many around the globe but we do have increasing cases of deaths and infections. I want you to reconsider the word ‘increasing’, because that states the impact of the virus is still there, not only there but is in increasing form.

Villains or Saviours
In these rough times, we are our villain and saviour. Our actions can determine what example we set for ourselves and the people around us. Even though life is slowly getting back to normal the impact and fear still exist. It is understandable for people pressed under financial crisis; they have to work to earn money. Also for those who have jobs that cannot be skipped. Such people should practice necessary precautions and as they go out think about their loved ones at home and act accordingly outside.
People’s representatives can also play a major part in these times- to save public health they should advise us to stay inside for as long as possible. Not to pressurize the students with the burden of possible exams, because we as students already have a lot going on. When the situation will go back to absolute normal then there can be a possibility of exam conduct. Overall, it is up to us how to handle our lives in a pandemic; it is up to us how we can set an example in our homes and community. Together with unity and common sense, we can get through this situation can hopefully recover fully from the pandemic.

(Ghimire writes regulrly for TRN)