Daily Times

With Pakistanis taking the coronavirus so lightly, continuing their wedding functions, private lunch/dinner parties and socialising despite the travesty and plethora of warnings from around the world, it is more important than ever before to highlight the heinous impact that it can have in Pakistan if things continue as they are. Let me get this out there: without a doubt, these activities are reckless at best, and criminal if we are being honest.

We have seen how on 26 February the first two cases of coronavirus were confirmed in Pakistan. At the time of writing this article, there are 382 cases with two confirmed deaths. By the time it’s published, the numbers are likely to have increased further, and eventually are likely to swell to the tens if not hundreds of thousands. This is a number that wouldmost likely be under-reported in order to maintain the public composure.

Why has it been an upward trajectory? Despite the government issuing warnings, closing schools and restricting travel, we Pakistanis are continuing with ‘business as usual’. In fact, we are going a step further and seeing it as an opportunity to bring forward our social calendars; dinners are being scheduled, weddings are in full swing and people are still having their underground parties. For what? To increase the likelihood of spreading the virus to an uncontrollable extent?

Those that are coronavirus carriers do not necessarily show symptoms. Many will not. The problem arises when carriers are exposed to others who may have underlying health conditions, including the vulnerable, the weak and the elderly. The problem is that there is no way of monitoring these exposures or the numbers. One person can infect thousands by just attending a wedding, going to a shopping mall, or eating out at a restaurant. Given the virus can last on surfaces for up to 28 days, even simple gestures such as opening a doorknob, sitting on a bench, or using an elevator can be deadly.

Imagine the consequences when carriers are continuing with business as usual, directly infecting others through face-to-face meetings or indirectly infecting the masses because they decided to go to a shopping mall, pressed the button to operate the elevator, tried on clothes at various outlets, touched the counters where many people pay for their shopping. The numbers affected and at serious riskwill, without a shred of doubt, increase exponentially. The consequences can be unimaginably devastating, and the number of deaths beyond comprehension.

Following the partial/total lockdowns imposed in the United States, China, Iran, Italy and numerous other countries across the European Union, there is no doubt that this is extremely serious. I am a London-based corporate lawyer, and until a week or so back I really did not think the coronavirus was a big deal. I thought that people were overreacting and that nothing could touch London. I was so incredibly wrong.

People are starting to realise that this may affect us all for the long haul. Supermarket shelves are empty; we’ve all seen the jokes circulating about a lack of toilet paper! There are no delivery slots when ordering online and people are legitimately scared.

Despite the government issuing warnings, closing schools and restricting travel, we Pakistanis are continuing with ‘business as usual’

People in the UK are likely to be heading towards a total lockdown, with people forced to work from home (if at all); children being pulled out of schools so that they do not affect those that are immune-compromised; and 20,000British army troops being placed on standby alert. What does this mean for the rest of the world? It is serious. Action is needed. Now.

Now is the time to act. Now is the time to practise social distancing. Now is the time to read the report that Imperial College Londonpublished, and which led to the UK very quickly changing its relaxed approach to a stricter one. Understand the gravity of the situation.

It is not too late to try to contain the spread of the virus,but we need to act immediately. Our social diaries can wait, our events can wait, but our lives and the lives of our dear ones cannot. Don’t be selfish. Do not think that you won’t be affected. This time it is not necessarily about you. It is about your parents, your grandparents, your vulnerable relatives and your immune-compromised friends.

Please act fast as time is not on our side. So many people are already affected and are carrying the virus. Having said that, the quicker we act, the quicker we stop the coronavirus spreading, and the quicker we prevent hospitals having to choose between saving a 27-year-oldcousin (yes, young people are affected) vs an80-year-old grandparent. Make the choice to socially isolate yourself so that the choice doesn’t have to be made between saving the lives of your loved ones. Act now.

The writer is a London-based corporate lawyer, Chairperson of the Oxbridge Muslim Alumni (OMA) and President of the youth wing of DIL Trust UK