Daily Times

It can be argued that the recent outbreak of Coronavirus has endangered lives of people across the world; disrupting the global economy and causing social disorganisation. Covid-19 has pushed mankind to face unprecedented social and economic challenges in its fight against the unseen enemy. In the war against the virus, Pakistan ramped up various strategies, which were mainly focused on lockdowns and the maintenance of social distancing in the hope of slowing the spread of the pandemic. However, the opportunity of suppressing this deadly virus was not fully availed due to a widespread indecisiveness, a lack of uniform policy and a common narrative that was indispensable for national unity and cohesion. Thus, the prevalent Corona situation triggered political polarisation between ruling elites and their opponents; causing confusion, uncertainty and a further divide in the society.

Under the unusual circumstances of the prolonged lockdown in the last two months, people are instinctually afraid of the terrifying effects of the virus on their healths and daily activities. Losses of jobs, closures of businesses, shrinkage of consumer goods, panic-buying, shortage of medicines, loneliness, hopelessness, depression, fear and anxiety are just a few of the losses inflicted by Coronavirus. During their stay in lockdowns, people have experienced novel adversities. Some faced illness and went through daunting and depressing conditions. Social distancing created strange circumstances that were unimaginable to people who struggled to accept the new realities of life. A lot has changed in terms of lifestyles, routine work, consumption patterns, travel plans and even cultural aspects, including sentiments, beliefs, values, customs and norms.

The silent killer of humanity is at large and being encouraged by wrong notions

Corona has been exposed to tangible and intangible forms of our culture. Wearing facemasks, adopting new nutrition plans and using precautionary stuff to ensure safety has become a new way of life. Nevertheless, the non-material aspects of our culture remain stagnant. It can be noted that victims of Coronavirus have been found reluctant to voluntarily disclose the symptoms of this viral infection. Thus, they preferred avoiding testing just because they refused to face negative comments of people and peer pressures. They are afraid of social alienation, self-perceived social consequences and the fear of being separated from their families. The reluctance of people based on their perceptions about social reactions to their illness can become a major source of exponential growth in the cases of the pandemic virus. The silent killer of humanity is at large and being encouraged by wrong notions and false beliefs, which are deeply rooted in our behaviours. Indifferent attitudes towards Coronavirus patients, as reported in media, have been both disturbing and humiliating. Doctors, nurses and paramedics are playing frontline roles in protecting the lives of people while putting their own lives in danger. Many of them are seen complaining about the inadequacy of testing kits, protective kits and ventilators in addition to the shortage of beds in hospitals. This has also generated a significant amount of fear and injected an element of uncertainty among people.

Further, the unchecked and unauthorised flood of misinformation that often comes through social media also contributes to the fear among the masses and puts the entire health care system at risk. Thus, law enforcement institutions of the government can play a vital role in curbing fake news by identifying miscreant elements currently engaged in creating misperceptions about the treatment of Covid-19 patients. Social media’s negative propaganda and rumours lack objectivity and scientific reasoning. Thus, awareness campaigns need to be organised to counter uncertified narratives and describe the pandemic situation in an objective manner. Misleading channels of verbal and non-verbal communication via internet also affect the harmony and social organisation by sharing sensational information. When it goes viral, such news breaks the bonds of truth and unity and destroys positive values and social ethos. People get confused by divergent views about the contagion, which makes it even harder for them to differentiate between truth and lies.

Global reactions to disease range from a feeling of being overwhelmed, fearful and helpless. This has also worried people confined to their homes due to lockdowns where they are being told to avoid human contact when they needed it the most. Consequently, a significant portion of the economically depressed population is facing severe mental stress and anger, which may give rise to domestic violence and suicides. If this battering of women and family feuds further prevail at homes, it would have a very negative impact on the socialisation of children. With the emergence of the family as an only institution of learning in the wake of the closure of all other avenues of socialisation, including schools, playgrounds and parks, an opportunity has been created to revitalise the role of this basic institution in the personality-development of children; shaping new identities, creating fresh ideas and formation of positive attitudes that would be helpful in the process of social reconstruction when the pandemic is over.

Among all labourers, daily wage workers have been affected the most as a result of strict enforcement of lockdowns. To ease the economic effects of closures of businesses and industries, a huge economic package was announced. Nevertheless, it would prove to be too little to deal with economic losses as the massive unemployment and shutdown of businesses was at a scale unprecedented in present times. The present economic losses are comparable to the losses occurred during the great depression. To deal with the biggest economic crisis of the world, a policy of Relief, Reform and Recovery (RRR) was implemented during the depression of 1929. The similar framework can be applied to mitigate the wounds of the economic crisis created by Covid-19 in our country.

In prolonged nationwide lockdowns, be it smart, strict or intermittent, the efforts to contain the local transmission of the virus could be further intensified and demand for resources will increase political pressure on the government. Before this situation occurs, the government should develop means to achieve political harmony, build a national narrative against the invisible enemy and adopt a uniform policy backed by all stakeholders to deal with the crisis in a more effective manner. Never has the need for such harmony, unity and solidarity been more evident than today to shield our society against social and economic breakdowns.

The writer is the Director of Pakistan Study Centre, University of Sindh, Jamshoro, and can be reached at shuja.mahesar@usindh.edu.pk.