Covid-19: The fightback has begun

The pendulum swings between hope and despair, Hope from Pfizer indicating they may have a breakthrough in fighting the Covid-19 virus. It said that it had identified certain anti-viral compounds that might have the power to inhibit the spectrum of coronaviruses.

Hope that a Seattle-based lab might have found a vaccine. Despair as more countries come to the conclusion that the problem is now universal and there is a need for extra vigilance, because until that solution is found the number of cases will rise and fall without any given pattern. Contrary to misplaced information there is no ethnic or geographical element in the spread. The virus seems to be democratic and without any demographic bias. The 'we are not affected' state of mind has to surrender space to 'all of us are susceptible' acceptance.

Since there is a human tendency to grasp at straws, a great deal of misinformation gets dispensed to the public and is believed because it lulls one into a sense of confidence that might be with no basis whatsoever.

An unproven assessment doing the rounds is that people who eat spice and chillies and curry up are immune to the virus. There is no medical reasoning behind this. By the same measure, there is even the allegation that nations whose people live in relatively compromised hygienic conditions have a higher resistance factor and therefore can keep the virus at bay. To put it bluntly there is no zero patient now. Again, no proof of this being valid. When these sort of scenarios are spun out over social platforms they gather a sort of a scary authenticity because we are all so eager to find refuge and salvation in something. Ergo, we let our guard down falling back on the 'this won't happen to us' false sense of security.

There is also occasionally an attitude of casualness that detracts from the seriousness of the situation. Let me share a recent example. The Indian Cricket Board (BCCI), for example seems impervious to the reported cases in India. Former Indian cricket captain Saurav Ganguly the president of the BCCI delayed the meet of the Asian Cricket Council to be held this week in the UAE but was quite blasé about the virus not being an issue that would impact the IPL starting end of this month. The subject was not even discussed at the meet of the IPL Governing Council and that indifference seems to be totally out of line especially since it being absent from the agenda was announced with pride.

Talk about guarding the cash-rich league's interests at the expense of the nation's health. There will be 60 jampacked stadiums in multiple cities so one imagines not talking about it is a bit strange considering the inherent potential for grief. The Japanese are considering delaying the Olympic Games and here it is a non-issue which is something that makes no sense. With plural Indian carriers locking down crew who have travelled with afflicted passengers and the Delhi Hyatt Hotel taking massive precautions after a diner was found positive for the virus, the blinders have to come off. The 15 Italians found suffering from Covid-19 has hit a chord. It is slowly seeping into the Indian subconscious that this is a very real threat. In a high density nation the speed with which the virus could hit thousands would leave the medical system gasping.

The situation again reiterates the need for a global consensus and total transparency. Everybody has a role to play and the individual sense of responsibility is paramount if we wish to contain this disease sooner than later.

We might very soon be facing a situation globally in which continuing to work long distance would be a viable option. The more we isolate ourselves from each other, the safer we all are. Forward thinking companies are already gearing for a virtual office situation and though assembly lined manufacture and the need to maintain essential commodity supply lines will call for manpower there has to be a heightened vigilance.

There will be a massive slowdown and we have to be smart because it is open ended.

Logic demands we start at home which is the inner cell. Back off on too many cold meats and stuff. Eat healthy. Keep up your immunity. Make handwashing fun for your kids, like turn it into a game with rewards. Talk to each other as adult members and share sensible information. A personal example; returned on a flight last night, was told by my niece who works with Johns Hopkins in the USA to fortify myself with vitamin C, that being the CDC recommendation. Okay, why resist it, vitamins cannot do any harm.

Neither can soap and water. Separate towels, as proposed by Siemens to its staff.

Everyone else is in this together and the common enemy is twofold: panic through rumour and blame and ostracising people through fear. The situation is bad enough as it is without casting suspicion on people and engaging in the blame game. Many years ago JFK called disease the common enemy of mankind. Never has it been proven so accurate as it is now.

And we have to fight back with plain common sense for this too shall pass.