The Nightmare of Mask Wearing
COVID-19 is a thief and a silent killer. It came to steal, kill, and destroy. The Pandemic ensured it destroyed our health system, jobs, and ruined our economy. Nurses, para-medical personnel, and other essential workers have been held captive. While doctors and others in the industry also found it difficult to adjust to the new arrangement. Professionals in this field have had to make a frantic effort to adapt and adopt new work patterns and be prepared digitally to render more efficient remote services to their patients.
COVID-19 took away our jobs, separated us from our families and friends, shattered our businesses (big, medium, and small), the backbone of our economy. It dismantles everything that comes its way. The virus sent our teachers and students packing from their respective schools and left our education system in a helpless state. We’re not even sure of how to handle the Pandemic squarely. Parents and teachers live on the edge and take to the streets protesting, seeking answers to when their children will safely resume classes.
COVID-19, the Talk of the Town World Wide
In recent times, nothing has distracted the world as the COVID-19 Pandemic. Every country on earth and its leaders have come up with plans to map out strategies of controlling and combatting this unseen enemy that threatens not only the elderly, but the youths and children’s health.
Why Should 2020 Not Have Questions to Answer About COVID-19?
Some people claim that COVID is a divine punishment to humanity because of our sins. Others see it as some foul play, liken it to Aids. And believe it’s a deliberate laboratory-induced product (disease, sickness). Whatever might be the case, and as the saying goes, it doesn’t worth crying foul when the head is off. Anyway, it makes sense if researches and investigations going on worldwide regarding how and why of this deadly virus could fish out the main cause. More so, if the research/investigation is geared towards preventing future pandemics, since COVID-19 may not likely be the last of its kind. For that reason, today, we are carefully examining the how and why of this Pandemic. How did we get here, from 2019 to 2020? Which portion of blame belongs to each of these years? Better still, who or what is really responsible for this Pandemic?
Without thinking twice, including those of our President Trump, many fingers are already pointing at China. Maybe so, but I think 2020 has some questions to answer and should probably receive a sizeable portion of the blame. For 2020 willingly connived with 2019 to launch this plague on humanity, making life miserable, frustrating, and hopeless. Little wonder that 2020 received its surname from 2019! Otherwise, why is it not known as COVID-20 but COVID-19? Or who could have imagined what would happen to us when we were ushering in the New Year 2020? Some of us were singing, dancing, and praying for good tidings in churches. Little did we know that no sooner we started the New Year, we’ll later be crying for some long months or years to come. Regretting ever welcoming the then New Year, now old and lousy year.
Thanks to COVID, Humans Now Run from Humans
Without a doubt, I stand to be corrected; the world is grappling with the most strange and stubborn Pandemic known to mankind. Interestingly, our world has become one in which humans now run from humans. If you’re in doubt, take a walk to any public place, or just go to some recreation parks in town. And see how people who might have their masks in a “relax mode” quickly shove it up to their faces as soon as they sight other humans around. Of course, that has become a new normal in our 21st-century society and in our daily life. The funny thing about it all is that we do no longer afraid of other dangerous species but of our own likes, humans! It may sound crazy, but admitting this behavior pattern or not, for sure, this madness has come to stay with us.
How COVID Has Changed Our Lives Forever
In the COVID era, even our vocabulary has changed. We now frequently hear of quarantine, distancing, hands washing, underlined health issues, etc. …
The CORONA BEER is also in trouble. Some people just feel psychological that the beer is related to the CORONA of COVID-19! Others became so irrational and easily provoked. Otherwise, why should one be so angry to the point of punching someone else simply because the person corrects you to put on your mask or keep your distance? This kind of madness can force many people to try as much as possible to keep their mouths shut, just to avoid these kinds of short-fused people. As part of our daily routine: working from home, online shopping, mask-wearing, thinking twice before using public transportation, including air travel. Trying to stay in touch with loved ones and a long list of chores…all have changed our lives forever. Shoppers force themselves out to the grocery stores with masks on their faces and sometimes with their gloves well-fitted in hands, as they lack other options.
Our homes are fast becoming the ideal working space environment. One-on-one touch with family members has become a mirage and challenging. As personal contacts have been a breeding ground for contracting the virus, especially from school-age kids to parents and grandparents.
Business Soars for Smart Guys
Today it’s common to see people with masks of every texture, colors, patterns, and sizes. Smart guys are not left out, as they’ve seized the opportunity to do some profitable business out of the dire situation. They quickly diversify their businesses to produce masks of all shapes and colors. Their goal, to satisfy a wide range of needs by producing masks meant sometimes specifically for celebrities. Not to talk of the variety of disinfectants (some of them injurious to human health) all in the name of expansive market demand the almighty COVID-19 Pandemic has created.
Our lifestyle and habits have changed forever. Common things like coughing and sneezing in public space can earn you a big embarrassment. This is a human trait that not long ago attracted empathy from others. This quality shows the human side and human feelings in us. Today, you dare not attempt to do such in an open public space or public circle. You just don’t do it if you’re intolerant of disgusting behavior. Because people sometimes manifest these habits unconsciously due to stressful situations thanks to this destructive COVID Pandemic.
Any End in Sight?
What is giving people so much concern is that many are asking when will this nightmare end? Or can we all sing in unison, “… What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger,” By Kelly Clarkson? No, Kelly. No disrespect intended, but I beg to differ. Not because I’m pessimistic about life, but trying to be realistic: How are we sure we’ll survive this, let alone be stronger? Are you kidding me?
The fact is that there’s no sign in sight yet as to when the Pandemic will end. Unfortunately, souls continue to perish daily.
Many people look forward to producing the vaccine, but that may not happen before the end of the year or well into the beginning of 2021. After all, even with the vaccine production, it doesn’t provide an immediate guarantee that it will serve its purpose and meet our high and desperate expectations. Again, what assurance do people have who will want to take such vaccines? Knowing the conspiracy theory circulating in the society in connection with its plan to modify human genes to accomplish its apocalyptic mission?
Meanwhile, we continue with our fate hoping for the better. Unfortunately, many people didn’t have enough luck to have outlived this killer Pandemic that has shaken the foundation of the world’s four corners.
