Daily Times

In January 2020, when China and the world wereconcerned about the threats of coronavirus and devising measures to deal with it, our almost entire nation was weeping why Danish died in Meray Pass Tum Ho. At that time, I wrote elsewhere, “Don’t cry for the death of poor Danish;instead try to save remaining million Danishs as the threatening coronavirus is looming around.”

The suggestion was in vain. Now it is March. Coronavirus, COVID-19, caused by SARS-CoV-2 has already proved a fatal disease. Scientific inquires, which are still underway to investigate the virus as detailed as possible, have revealed that although it originated from the wet animal market in China’s Wuhan City, the virus transmits person-to-person rapidly.

The virus has become a pandemic and a great global public health concern. Globally, the cases and deaths are already around 330,000 and over 13,000, respectively. It is genuinely threatening the existence of human beings. However, we Pakistanishavejust woken up. Why I say that is because at the government level, there are preventive measures and a plethora of warnings, but a substantial number of citizens are taking the coronavirus so lightly. They are observingwedding functions, private congregations and socialising activities. This ill-informed attitude isillegal and irrational. They are probably unaware of the Spanish Flu of 1918 that devastated the entire world.

There is no proper cure and vaccine available as yet, but there is isolation of the infected, and self-quarantine of the remaining population for reducing person-to-person transmission, especially in susceptible populations. To do so, measures are necessary to be taken at the governmental and individual level.

At the government level, steps, preventive as well as curative, should be guided by science. First of all, we should understand that a health emergency creates several needs: psychological, social, clinical and economic. The government must address all of them.

Psychologically, the current pandemic has created a huge mental pressure. People are uncertain, anxious and panicking because of anoverabundance of disinformation. These speculations are feeding the rumour mill. For instance, there is a rumour that if someone is tested coronavirus-positive, the individual is set on fire after putting petrol on him/her. Imagine the intensity of fear that this rumour can cause among people. Rumours always circulate, and an after-effect is a natural phenomenon.Given that, government must bring well-informed personnel on media to give briefings to the nation. All the established nations have engaged their scientists and intellectualsto inform the public. This is the difference between “them” and “us”, which defines the future either to be successful or harmful.

An able government can do nothing if the people are careless, and well-informed citizens cannot do anything in the presence of poor governance

Second, shield the vulnerable population, which includes people with underlying acute and chronic health conditions, older adults, children and healthcare providers. The focus, socially and ethically, should be on assessing and mitigating the risks for this population. Third, our approximately 30 percent population lives near or under the poverty line. This populationparticularly subsists on daily wages. Consequently, this population has no choice to observe isolation and quarantine. If this population stays at home, then hunger will kill it.Therefore, the government is accountable to make significant efforts to provide this population with sufficient food.

Fourth, government have introduced measures to halt the transmission of the virus, such as travel bans, closures of markets and restaurants, and lockdown by the Sindh government. For effectively implementing these measures, government must engage influential people, who are respected at a village, colony or city level, to mobilise people. In case people do not comply with these measures, then the government holds all the power to impose strict penalties, even by force.

Moreover, equally important are specific measures at an individual level. If wethink that the virus cannot infect us, we are nothing but illiterate and ill-informed. We may not be vulnerable and affected by the virus, but we can still be a carrier and infect someone else, especially our loved ones. So, our behaviour can be risky for others. First and foremost, maintaining personal hygiene is essential; cleanliness completes half of the faith if observed. Our religion recommends usfive-time ablution daily. Indeed, it has spiritual benefits, but also hygienic aspects of staying healthy.

Secondly, if one, unfortunately, is tested coronavirus-positive, isolation is a social and ethical obligation. Vulnerable or not, self-quarantine is the best and proved measure to prevent the circulation of infection. Maintain social distancing: if going outside is a need then keeping a distance of two meters is essential.

Thirdly, avoiding congregations is indispensable; otherwise, we are making the environment harmful to others. Fourthly, eating as healthy food as possible and as much as we economically can afford is important. Fruits boost our immune system to fight against the microorganisms. We should learn a lesson from the most affected countries such as China, Italy and Iran. Once the virus spreads, it rapidly escalates. Controlling it then needs weeks and months. No one can buy time afterwards. Therefore, it is a legal, religious, and social obligation to abide by the suggestions and recommendation of the government. We should never forget a basic principle to deal with any emergency, especially health emergencies, that an able government can do nothing if the people are careless, and well-informed citizens cannot do anything in the presence of poor governance. Both are the primary pillars of a nation. The need is to prove that we are a great and mature nation led by a capable government. It is time to keep calm and act logically in the face of the ongoing challenge and testing times.

Let us do our best so that we can feel proud of our actions afterwards. Otherwise, in the end, we would be counting our members, especially the older ones.

The writer is a PhD Scholar with a specialisation in medical anthropology at the University of Vienna, Austria