In December 2019, I read an article about a mysterious new virus that had been discovered in Wuhan, China. One case. The world watched that virus slowly evolve, killing and infecting thousands in China, and then slowly affecting South Korea, Iran, Italy, and countless other countries one by one. And then it reached the United States, then my state, then my city. 153,517 cases. It has now affected more than 100 countries within just a few months. Just four days ago, it was declared a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO).
COVID 19, or Coronavirus Disease 2019, is a new virus in the coronavirus family that has not previously been seen in humans. It is one of 7 coronaviruses, among them Middle East Respiratory Syndrome (MERS) and Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS), which can affect humans. For the elderly and for those with underlying medical conditions, COVID-19 can be deadly, but those who are generally healthy are less likely to die or be seriously harmed from it.
When COVID-19 was only in China, life went on as normal, and no one really seemed to care. But that completely changed in a matter of weeks. Since then, entire countries have gone into lockdown, almost all gatherings and events have been cancelled, lots of air travel has been halted, and people have been sent into a panic, distancing themselves from others, buying all the cleaning and hygiene supplies they possibly can, and self-quarantining themselves. Most of us never thought the situation would get this bad, but no one really noticed it until it started to affect them.
My religion, Sikhism, emphasizes the collective well-being and sharing what you have, regardless of how much or how little it may be. From a young age, I was taught about the phrase “Sarbhat Daa Bhala,” which literally means “blessings for all.” How do we achieve this principle of collective blessings and happiness? Empathy. We should realize that not everyone is as fortunate, or in this situation, as healthy, as we are, and strive to understand what they are going through. We should make sure we consider other’s needs as well as our own when making decisions. Stay home if you are sick. COVID-19 may not be fatal to you, but for someone with an underlying medical condition, it can be. When stocking up on cleaning supplies, only take what you need so that others who are in different circumstances than you can get access to supplies as well. There are so many small things we can do to ensure that we are looking out for everyone’s well-being.
COVID-19 is not an excuse for us to dismiss other cultures and peoples and speak about them negatively. Xenophobia and other forms of discrimination are not okay, and never will be, regardless of what circumstances we are facing. COVID-19 was no one’s fault, and blaming it on others will get us nowhere. We can’t let our fear and anger get in the way of our morals. No one expected this to become a pandemic with negative impacts across the globe, but there is only so much we can control. Instead of thinking about what would have been, we need to think about what will be. Let’s stand together as communities instead of bringing each other down, and remember that we are all in this together. Our health and well-being matters just as much as the next person’s health and well-being. In these next few posts, I will be creating a series to help people navigate COVID-19: its economic and social impacts, tips for staying healthy while also being mindful of those less fortunate than us, and how to help members of our communities during this chaotic time.