COVID-19 and Social Distance

I was walking home from buying groceries at our local shopping center when I met a man talking to his kids in swahili saying ” si mtatusumbua sana sasa vile shule zimefungwa?” It meant that children will give parents a hard time now that schools have been closed down.

This prompted me to hurriedly walk home and check on the news. Indeed Kenya’s president Uhuru Kenyatta had directed all schools to close down and announced a range of other measures to contain the coronavirus pandemic.

Following this announcement, everyone I know seems to be in some sort of panic. We are all anxious and uncertain about tomorrow. Furthermore, there is no cure or vaccine against Coronavirus. Even the great America has no solution to offer its citizens other than press briefings on safety measures and words of compassion.

Statistics show that elderly people are more at risk. My parents are above the age of sixty and they have to remain at home and steer away from crowded places. This means they can no longer operate their business nor go to work. As for me, I am grounded too. I can’t go to work until God knows when. My brother in Dubai has been forced to come home following the temporary closure of destinations. Travelers have disappeared and the hospitality industry is the worst hit. Actually, hotels in the UAE are asking their staff to go on unpaid leave.

In order to protect yourself from COVID- 19, it is advised that you wash your hands often with soap and water or use a hand sanitizer that contains at least 60% alcohol. Unfortunately, there are people who live in areas where water is scarce and they can hardly afford sanitizers. My heart goes out to my dear friends in Somalia and Somaliland where water is not readily available.

During my one year stay in the horn of Africa, I came to appreciate the value of water resources. Lack of access to water during the current coronavirus outbreak is a major concern. The health care system in Somalia and Somaliland is wanting and a coronavirus outbreak would be catastrophic.

So far there are more than 182, 400 confirmed cases worldwide according to a report by Johns Hopkins University. The virus seems to be spreading faster than it was earlier predicted. Streets have been deserted, businesses are closing down, there are no more handshakes, no cultural events, and no public gatherings. All nonessential contact with others and traveling is not advisable. This pandemic has surely taken away our social life and threatens our economic well being.

As I watch news updates from across the globe, I wonder what the future holds. How long will it take for someone to develop a safe and effective vaccine? Global health experts say that developing, testing and reviewing any potential vaccine is a long, complex endeavor that may take months. We are all waiting with bated breath for a solution and the best we can do for now is stay home. This disease jumped from animals to humans, wildlife to be specific. If China never consumed wild animals, probably this disaster would never have happened. However, since it’s already here with us, its time to be your brother’s keeper by ensuring you don’t acquire it and pass it over to others. Our bodies are a gift from God and we should protect them against harm as much as we can.

By Wangui Ngugi