- With the emergence of an unexpected third wave of the pandemic that is demanding a more frenetic distribution of vaccines that have been developed in record time, most countries where CoviD-19 has resurfaced a third time have opted for stricter measures to contain, it including lockdowns.
- Containment measures put in place to curb the spread have meant a change to everyday life the way we know it. Restriction of movement, raising the standards of hygiene and even minimizing body contact, with modified forms of salutations like the largely impersonal fist bump that have made greetings impersonal have left humanity struggling to adapt to a new way of life.
By Eric Obwogi
It is over one year since the corona virus (CoviD-19) was discovered in Wuhan, China, and the first anniversary since, after being anticipated with trepidation for a couple of months, it hit the African shores.
It has however taken time for a significant percentage of the population to accept that the world is in the middle of a vicious pandemic, characterized by a mutating virus that keeps leaving experts wrong footed.
What complicates matters more is how long sections of the world’s population have taken to accept that indeed there is a grave health crisis in all major cities, which has guaranteed unfettered spread, plunging the world economy into the second recession in just over a decade.
In Kenya, politicians have been in full campaign mode, pushing the BBI agenda, with both sides of the political divide rally drawing large crowds with little regard to Covid 19 safety protocols. Little wonder then that the pandemic was being pushed to the back banner, and caution to the wind.
Containment measures put in place to curb the spread have meant a change to everyday life the way we know it. Restriction of movement, raising the standards of hygiene and even minimizing body contact, with modified forms of salutations like the largely impersonal fist bump that have made greetings impersonal have left humanity struggling to adapt to a new way of life. Your favorite restaurant suddenly has limits to the hours you can sit and chat, how many acquaintances you can entertain at one time, how far apart you should sit, and a time by which you have to head for the exit.
While socializing is simply not the same anymore, effects of the pandemic on the macroeconomic environment paint a grim picture. Mass job losses, business downscaling and even shut-downs have occasioned collapse of whole sectors of the economy. The ripple effect is self-evident.
Wearing face masks in public by the general population has become the norm.
And with the emergence of an unexpected third wave of the pandemic that is demanding a more frenetic distribution of vaccines that have been developed in record time, most countries where CoviD-19 has resurfaced a third time have opted for stricter measures to contain, it including lockdowns.
And it is obviously taking a toll. As the pandemic wears on, fatigue is setting in – people are getting tired of adhering to a new, strange way of life with its accompanying financial woes. People are overwhelmed, trying to keep up with it. It simply means sustained behaviour change, which can be real hard; especially if you are enjoying normal health, and you still have to disrupt your established routines, especially long standing ones.
Before the third wave hit Kenya, the majority had poured cold water on the risk of CoviD-19. People were already beginning to feel the need for relaxing the protocols recommended by health experts. The risk did not seem sufficiently real to warrant such a drastic lifestyle change.
Acceptance
It is time for Africa to wake up to the fact that CoviD-19 is real. A paradigm shift in terms of lifestyle is inevitable and life may never go back to the pre-2020 “normal”. You have the responsibility to keep yourself and others safe, and alive. Do the right thing. Regularly washing hands, maintaining physical distance, and wearing a mask in public is just the beginning. Safety protocols, based on medical research, keep changing and as such, may trigger despair. Patience is important, and practice makes perfect. After some time, adherence to the safety measures may even be likable after all. Formation of new habits is central to staying safe. Watch out for the daily briefings and new recommendations.
There is more to life than gatherings. Limiting interactions and gatherings where safe social distancing is not possible is not only responsible, it patriotic as well. Most people know that the pandemic is real, and because people are generally good, the more people are aware of the truth, the safer our world will be.
Africans are largely obedient, religious people. Church gatherings, however, are hotspots for the spread of CoviD-19, and not attending church gatherings has two sides: there is the hindrance of religious conviction and the accentuation of spirituality. Stay home more and work on your spirituality – reflect more and meditate much. That is all there is to prayer.
For one year, imposed curfews have ensured that families are together earlier and more frequently, as parents who usually work till late are forced to leave the office early to beat the deadlines. This has provided time for bonding and refreshing of ties that bind. Perhaps there will be no going back to late night cocktails for those who love to indulge, as family life is revived, and relationships reinforced.
The pandemic brought tears and heartbreaks in corporate corridors as many people lost their jobs and livelihoods. Some companies did not fire a single employee, but instead moved to cushion them against the effects of CoviD-19. This decision can be draining to a company. However, on the flip side, organizations that maintained their staff, by being humane, have cultivated loyalty, which is sure to pay off in the long pull.
Change is never easy. Adapting to life during CoviD-19 is no exception. Africa’s blessings are two-fold: a young healthy population and generally warm climate that is less supportive to the multiplication of the virus. Also, most African countries have been very keen in reinforcing safety protocols. As we await the full penetration of vaccines in Africa, we should persist with preventive practices, and monitor possible infections closely. Early diagnoses save lives.
