Mohsin Gulzar
What is Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19)? Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) is an incipient strain of coronavirus which may cause illness in animals or humans. In humans, several coronaviruses are known to cause respiratory infections ranging from the prevalent cold to more rigorous diseases. First identified in a cluster with pneumonia symptoms in Wuhan, China, was first reported to the WHO Country Office in China on 31 December 2019. The outbreak was declared a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on 30 January 2020. On 11 February 2020, WHO promulgated a designation for the incipient coronavirus disease: COVID-19. COVID-19 outbreak has shaken the entire world. It is a dangerous disease and does not spare anyone. COVID-19 does not care about race, religion, color, national origin, sex, status or age of a person. Even the World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled it a pandemic. We are living in the advanced age of science and technology, having a number of medical research centers, and scientists working and researching there. They may develop a vaccine for the treatment of the disease, but for now, there is no specific vaccine available which can be used for the treatment of the disease.
Why the outbreak of COVID-19 took place? Materialistic possessions have taken the control of our mind and heart. We have turned away from God’s standards and made our own path, thus committing sins, and breaking relationship with Him (God). Coronavirus pandemic is like the ‘Angel of Death’ (Israel), which has caused fear, panic and uncertainty around the world. I think the outbreak of COVID-19 took place because of our own deeds. We have been created by our Creator (God), and are provided with skills that other species/creations lack. We are the best creations of our Creator (God), or in other words the ‘Crown of Creations’ on Earth. But, we do not know what we are, and what we have to do. We have made ourselves valueless by our own deeds. Everyone seems to be in a hurry, wants more and more comforts, and ease in this ‘New Age of Science and Technology.’ This has made us impatient, and its outcome is that we have forgotten our Creator (God), got disconnected from him and broke our relationship with Him (God). Materialism has replaced our consciousness. Whatever we have, we are not satisfied with that. We have become ungrateful. We are in search of getting and collecting more and more. We are not willing to remove the ‘Faustus’ that resides in our bodies, and as a result, our souls have become dead. We have lost the real purpose of our life. It is impossible to achieve peace, if our souls are dead. The disease may be a test/warning from our Lord so that we can revive our souls, and turn to Him.
The Dark Side of COVID-19 Outbreak :- COVID-19 pandemic has expeditiously spread around the world, posing gargantuan health, economic, environmental and convivial challenges to the entire human population. The COVID-19 outbreak is rigorously disrupting the ecumenical economy. Virtually all the nations are struggling to decelerate the transmission of the disease by testing & treating patients, quarantining suspected persons through contact tracing, restricting immensely colossal amassments, maintaining consummate or partial lock down etc. The Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) has put global trade on hold, placed half of the world population in confinement and has the potential to topple governments and reshape diplomatic relations. The Coronavirus pandemic has so far killed more than 287,300 people across the world. Also, at present, it has infected more than 42 lakh people around the world, although more than 15 lakh people have recovered from it. We still do not know when the disease will disappear from the Earth, and how many people will fall prey to it.
The Bright Side of COVID-19 Outbreak: – We all might be familiar with the famous Arabic proverb: “Maybe a harmful thing is beneficial.” This proverb is conventionally used when a lamentable circumstance bothers a person, a group or a town. Of course, we have a dark side of the COVID-19 outbreak but its brightest side is that it has exposed the weakness, inability and impotence of a nation to fight such a calamity. Every country will (or may) invest more on its healthcare post current humanitarian (COVID-19) crisis is over. But, that is not enough. Countries should leave their differences aside, work together and prepare in advance to cope with any disaster/calamity that may come in the future. On the gregarious side, the virus gave us an opportunity to reconnect with family, as we spend more time at home, especially with schools off, in integration to working from home for many vocation. On the environmental side, the benefits are many and great. Constraining peregrinate gives a break to the environment, welkin, air, our lungs, etc. Components of China managed to optically discern a blue empyrean for the first time in years, with factories closing there. In integration to that, working from home in lieu of commuting to work truncates crowding and pollution and preserves time and income. That is a great avail for the fight against climate change; something that the ecumenical community had not manage to achieve after many years of climate negotiations.
Treatment of COVID-19 at Present:- We haven’t built alternative housing on any other planet to settle there and get rid of COVID-19 pandemic. COVID-19 is a natural disaster, and man has again proved his helplessness in the ‘other’ Face of Nature (God). In other words, we can say that man has surrendered before Nature (God). Well, we are fortunate to be alive and it is the ‘Mercy of Nature’ on us that we are not sick or infected by the disease.Life is a precious gift from Nature, and we should take care of it. As of now, there is no vaccine available for the treatment of the disease. The only cure available right now to fight COVID-19 and stop it from spreading is to put people (who have been or may have been exposed to COVID-19) in quarantine. People who are healthy and are not infected by the disease should avoid large crowds, mass gatherings, and should be at home as much as possible. Travellers returning home must self-isolate for 14 days after arrival. Practicing social or personal distancing will help us to control the spread and transmission of novel coronavirus. This is the best method suggested by the experts, practiced around the globe, and is ‘free of charge’. Staying home, staying informed and following the guidelines will prove helpful for us to fight this disease. Governments should use technology to identify COVID-19 hotspots, and should effectively implement lockdown restrictions. Yes, many people will lose their jobs, daily wagers will struggle, students may get affected and there will be more other impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. But, we have to tolerate these things/impacts. In order to get rid of this deadly disease, we have to lose something. To win the war against COVID-19, we need to be calm, patient, rational, and sensible. Individuals, societies and nations should sacrifice their comforts, and even privileges that raise the possibilities of the spread of COVID-19. Only then, we will return to normal life, and the world that looks dull now, will regain its beauty.
My message for the people on/about the current climate :- The world is not the same as it was prior to COVID-19 outbreak. It may change more than ever before, post COVID-19 crisis is over; still the world will continue to exist. But, we must remember that one’s world ends the time he/she dies. So, don’t risk your lives by unnecessarily coming out from your homes. Protect yourself by staying home, staying informed and following guidelines.
(The author is a student P G Department of English at Islamia College of Science and Commerce (ICSC), Hawal, Srinagar. Views are his own [email protected])
