Unlocking Diaries

India witnessed the largest pandemic outbreak in its history. On 25 March - its 1.3 billion citizens battened down their hatches in an attempt to knock down the COVID-19 curve. There was a sudden announcement of lockdown and everything came to a standstill. The lives and livelihood of everyone took a sudden freeze.  People battled staying at home for 3 long months halting their usual lives and recessing their livelihoods. But, how will a common man survive without earning? The lockdown did not ‘kill’ the virus and was never going to. We will have to learn to live with Covid-19 virus, possibly until 2022.So, till then can we continue staying at home and lead our lives as usual and most importantly, can the nation run, the economy build up by staying indoors. Absolutely, it brings shivers down the spine to even think about it. Then there was the Unlock 1.0 after a harsh lockdown of 75 days.

 India took the lockdown measures at a very early stage hoping to a mild spread of the deadly virus. Compared to other nations, the numbers did not grow as quickly as many expected them to, an indicator that suggests the lockdown may have helped reduce the spread of the virus. But worryingly, the end of lockdown doesn’t seem to have led to a downward trend in the number of new cases.

 The re-opening came along with its new set of rules and regulations where places were divided into three colored zones- green, orange, and red- with full restrictions applying to containment zones. After weeks of complete ban on anything but essentials, India is slowly limping back to normalcy. There was an echo of declaration everywhere that we needed to be ready to live with coronavirus. Life is no more the usual as it used to be after weeks of lockdown which was given in a short notice.

 The migrant population haphazardly started shuffling their bases which proved too costly and a major reason for the virus spread. Community spread has become the talk of the town and every lane and street is now being infected and sealed down. Though the daily wage workers have come on streets and markets for their living, there doesn’t seem to be enough buyers for the goods. Common man has now become reluctant to even venture out, forget shopping or eating on streets. The usual eat out or shopping venues have now become a place of scare and anxiety. The poor now say, if the virus did not kill us, the lockdown and the scare will surely will.

The nationwide extended lockdown imposition was due to the weak public health service and tertiary healthcare system where the government has to play a major role. The covid cases are still alarmingly increasing and the government measures are unable to cope up with the spike. Private hospitals are now being tied up to increase the number of beds and ventilators. People in and around such medical setup have become anxious and stigmatized. There has been a widespread awareness for social distancing, sanitation, mask wearing, immunity building which has been looking good to preach, but practicing the same is going for a toss. Some people are still sloppy and behave as nothing has happened and continue the same careless behavior in public.

The public transport system took a major hit during its peak season. Secondly, public transportation requires a greater public investment. The transport economy literally requires its wheels to be moving to revive itself. The momentum will be regained if the system is functional suitably. Transport sector revival is the key to reviving growth.

With schools and colleges shut for weeks and exams cancelled, students pursuing 10^th and 12^th are confused over their future. The situation has now become uncontrollable to keep children indoors and occupied. The families are unsure about their financial future; children are lacking personal space and most importantly are separated from their friends. They are exposed to a widespread fear fuelled by rapid spread of virus, constant news chatter about death and disease which therefore creates uncertainty and apprehension about their loved ones. Most of the population now been home bound, working and spending time at home, there is a feeling of monotony. Domestic violence is now on rise and women have now again felt a sense of insecurity and worthless.

The lockdown may now be planned to end steadily, but as is happening across the globe - a new epidemic is now emerging. In the weeks and further months ahead, India will witness a massive mental health crisis due to unemployment, alcohol abuse, economic hardship, domestic violence and indebtedness. While this is expected to affect most of the population, it will disproportionately affect the poor, most vulnerable and marginalized groups. COVID-19 has created a great deal of stigma in the society mainly through a lack of awareness about how the disease spreads and how it attacks the human body. In many places, healthcare workers, treating COVID-19 patients during the day, have been forcefully evicted from their homes out of fear that they may be bringing the virus back at night. People who were tested positive and later cured are being shunned in apartment complexes by their resident associations. Such is the apathy of our country.

While India still struggles to battle the great pandemic, there is still a huge requirement of appropriate awareness and well being. There is a great requirement to fight courageously against the virus and not against the infected. Though lockdown is put in place or unlocked, the world has to understand that it is not the same world as before. This a period of great endurance and resilience and again a struggling phase of life which will have yet another new day.