Take coronavirus seriously

In times of coronavirus pandemic, people around the globe are taking safety precautions and practicing social distancing rules. The deadly virus, which has claimed lives of more than 300,000 people, has brought the global economies to their knees. Countries around the world have imposed stern restrictions to contain the coronavirus outbreak.

But let us not forget that we live in Pakistan, where people don’t take anything seriously: a country where everything is a conspiracy. Despite the deaths of more than 850 people in the country, Pakistanis are still claiming that coronavirus doesn’t even exist. The thinking is simply absurd.

Even in coronavirus restrictions, Pakistanis were roaming around the streets for unnecessary reasons. The government has also been unable to grasp the profound gravity of what could lie ahead of us. Despite claiming to learn from the Chinese way of handling the crisis, there is no on-ground action in Pakistan that supports their claim.   

It has been becoming clearer as time has worn on that this virus is will infect most-if not all. A number of studies have reported that a significant portion of people are even spreading the virus while presymptomatic — in a day or two before they start to feel ill.

Most young and healthy people who become infected are likely to recover or may never show symptoms. However, since the disease spreads easily, they could infect someone who is older or has underlying health issues- a group at risk of serious disease or death.

Two days earlier, one of my cousins tested positive for the coronavirus. He is currently suffering from a high fever, with no taste and a lot of pain in the body. His family has been quarantined and the government’s health team has also advised other persons – who have met him recently – to take coronavirus test as soon as possible. I have seen him suffering from the pain.

The goal right now is to slow the spread of the virus or to “flatten the curve” by limiting public interactions, thereby preventing a spike in cases that could overwhelm Pakistan’s health system which doesn’t have enough supplies and capacity to handle a huge outbreak.

It’s a rare situation when the lives of others are in the hands of regular people everywhere. We’re living it right now. Please take coronavirus seriously.