The Pandemic

Every hour, the crisis is looming closer to us, much like the CW’s crisis on infinite earths that approached the DC multi-verse. They had a string of aliens, two lightning speedsters and over-dressed vigilantes to take upon the superhero act and save everyone.

(For the normal and non-geek folks, CW is a TV channel, DC is a superhero comics industry and I have mentioned about a particular TV show in the channel, where as usual the universe is being destroyed)

Who do we have? An orangutan who makes racial remarks and scowls at the press for asking questions and an overt showman who believes making thali sounds by the public as a crowd is far more important to the doctors, health care workers and sanitation workers than giving them medical supplies? 

So, that begs the question, who’ll be our saviors? The WHO? The NGO’s? The government? The rich capitalists who’s funding money as an act of mercy to hospitals and charities? Who’ll do it? Who’ll take upon the responsibility , the effort for us so that we all can sit back, relax and clap our hands to the one who did it all?

Ironically, the first thing we need to do is what I mentioned above, sit back, relax and take a breather in our homes with our families.

The outbreak

After the Chinese had known the enormity of the situation by the start of the year, the epidemic had already consumed many lives in the Wuhan and neighbouring provinces. The Chinese, known for their efficient health care and medical facilities struggled to find beds to put people in as the novel infection spread like a wildfire.

Now, how did this epidemic turn into a global pandemic is a separate study for later, which might have been really simple or very complex and methodic as the conspirators say. The Whats app university gold medalists are in full form arguing and sharing nuggets about “Hug the Chinese campaign” in Italy, the bio-weapon gone wrong by the Chinese government and the potential Hanta virus that can end the world, giving script writers and directors a treat for a future box office feature.

While all this is happening, the world has already seen close to 18000 deaths and the people at the forefront of this, the doctors and public servants are risking their lives everyday, to keep us all safe.

Is social distancing the way forward?

The social distancing essentially means, isolating yourself. So if large no of people have to isolate themselves then you cancel large gatherings, close academic centers, offices and lockdown a city or place.

In other words, you basically shutdown your society, that has existed since dawn. Businesses flounders, economy crashes and everything except you and your life comes to a halt.

Giorgio Agamben a famous philosopher from Italy calls these measures, “frantic, irrational and absolutely unwarranted”. He says that the measures taken , sends people into a wave of panic and paralyzes them into a society that believes in anything but a bare life.

As his critics quote, he’s wrong in many levels not understanding the pandemic or its seriousness. They are right, you have to distance yourself from others. But in what way?

Social solidarity with a physical distance.

Agamben though was correct in one aspect: we are reduced to our bare lives. We, “the social beings” essentially just eat, sleep and stay in a shelter for a period. 

Lot of experts say you have to practice ”social solidarity with physical distance”. It means you depend on others - individuals, groups, communities while maintaining a physical distance. 

Simple- Promote public health system not just personal safety, help the elderly, children and the vulnerable, create measures that can help the doctors and other workers.

Limit your regular check-ups to the hospitals unless urgent, thus essentially creating space for the needy.

Do not go out unless you have to get essential supplies.

If you find any of the persons in your community or family suffering with any of the symptoms, ask them or if needed, push them to get it checked with a doctor or a health care worker. Don’t just abandon anyone for your personal safety.

If you have a travel history, please quarantine yourself rigidly even if you don’t have the symptoms. Covid-19 could have been transmitted and you might take any day in two weeks to start showing symptoms.

Wash your hands and maintain your hygiene regularly

Don’t spread unauthenticated messages in your social platforms. Some might find the funnier or the truer side of it, but some might not. This is not the “ the best national anthem in the world is India’s national anthem , declared by UNESCO” kind of situation. This is a matter of life and death.

We can create our own relief space in the web among our friends, family and colleagues and discuss art, movies and chat while also give someone a moral support and strength if they are in proximity to any difficulty.

We can self- introspect in the time we have, find our hidden passion and hobbies and refresh ourselves.

Last but not least, even if I had mentioned some indifferent comments about our leaders or governments , it is time that we (myself included) follow what they say and try emulating their requests. We all have to put our differences apart from each other, men or women, young or old, right wing or left and work together with all the forces from government, leaders ,the police to the the medical industry (also the medical students around the world, who’s being thrown into the deep end straight away but are bold and spirited enough to serve and help) and the public servants. 

Its might be late to emerge victorious but we can come out safe by paying the least price possible.

Now, as Clark Kent (the Superman) says, “ A superhero is an ordinary individual who finds strength to persevere and endure in spite of overwhelming obstacles”

For once, we, the PEOPLE can be our own superheroes.