Princy Bhatta
“Coronavirus!”
The word, occupying the major space of people’s head nowadays, simply denotes a group of RNA viruses that affects the respiratory system of human beings. It was first identified in Wuhan City, China and, was initially reported to the WHO on December 31, 2019. The WHO declared the COVID-19 outbreak a global health emergency and a global pandemic on January 30, 2020, and on March 11, 2020, respectively.
According to Worldometer, The coronavirus has affected 213 countries around the world, leading people to great dismay. There are around 37.5 million corona cases, 1.08 million deaths from corona virus, and 26.1 million people recovered from it across the globe. (October12, 2020)
Talking about the pros and cons of the corona virus disease, the Coronavirus disease is leading to several impacts like thwarting and hindering the economy of the country worldwide. It is fueling the existing problems related to inequality, discrimination, conflict, violence, and many more. Also, many people are facing mental health fallout from the corona virus pandemic. The pandemic is being responsible for escalating the suicidal rates, intensified by social isolation due to quarantine and social-distancing guidelines, fear of rape, unemployment, and financial factors and is also becoming an impediment in the pace of development. In most of the developing countries, more people are dying due to hunger caused by the consequences of the corona virus pandemic, not due to the virus itself.
Conversely, the earth is healing. The corona pandemic is letting our mother earth to heal. Nature is getting back to normal. The air quality levels in the world’s major cities improved drastically because of a reduction in factory and road traffic emissions of carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen oxides (NOx), and related ozone (O3) formulation, particulate matter (PM), and much more. It’s being a benison to reboot ourselves, spending quality time with ourselves, nurture ourselves, our loved ones, and value what we have. It has blessed us with time to re-connect with nature and with our soul in this busy era. Coronavirus can be controlled if we stay homes, take care of ourselves, and follow the preventive guidelines. The virus enlightened the need for self-care, self-awareness, and prevention. This virus is not only teaching us what we have long forgotten but also teaching us to embrace humanity.
If the earth doesn’t heal in time, we shall be gone forever, and doing so, it is becoming a healer as well. As already mentioned, every consequence of the virus is not negative; it possesses positive consequences too. Every coin has two sides; the virus has too. Therefore, it is in our hands whether to utilize the leisure time we are getting or to prove it an apocalypse.
[Princy is bachelor student in Public Health (3rd year) student at Nobel College of Health Science. She is originally from Dhangadhi, Kailali.]
Indeed! Well elaborated <3 We'll get through it.