Go Corona Go!!

Go Corona Go!!

The whole World comes to a Halt;

Stockpiling and hoarding of essentials like wheat, rice and Salt.

Once the busiest streets have become the hall of Isolation;

With no available vaccine and medication; 

Self-Isolation is the least we can do for prevention.

Mahi, an 8-year old tan skinned girl, gazing through her lustrous but starving black eyes towards her helpless father who is still at home even when their food stock has ended two days ago and her mother who is coughing, sneezing and is burning up from fever, but still can’t afford to let go off her 2 daughters, Mahi being the eldest and an infant from her laps, to go see a Doctor and get quarantined waiting for her turn to be able to get tested. Mahi tightly shuts her eyes and tries to wake up from this Dystopian Dream but she couldn’t. 

This is not a Dystopian themed stage play, but has become a reality for numerous daily wage laborers and people living hand to mouth. But who is responsible for this catastrophic damage to one of the most intelligent and dominant species on the Earth, Humans ?

A microscopic virus, SARS-CoV-2, erupted at Wuhan District of China  on 31st Jan,2019 and has severely shook the world with deluging more than 40,000 lives and affecting more than 8 lakh people as on 2nd April,2020 (according to the WHO) and which is why, it has been bestowed with the title of ‘Pandemic’.

One of the most viral facts about Coronavirus, other than its lightning fast spread, is that it's not only an epidemic for Global Health but has also devastated Economic, Social and Political Scenarios around the world.

Firstly, the epicentre of this outbreak was China which is at the heart of the Global Economy. China is responsible for 15.5% of the global GDP (IMF, 2018). It is also referred as the ‘World’s Factory’ because of its huge manufacturing and export base. Numerous industries around the world were forced to face sloppy growth because of the sudden cut off of supplies from China. 

Interestingly, not only the ‘Supply’ of Global Industries was disturbed but a major proportion of the consumption,i.e., ‘Demand’ was severely impacted as China is also the ‘World’s Consumer’ and provides a viable market to the Global industries.

Secondly, the self quarantining policy all across the world, albeit being effective in inter-country spread of virus and even in controlling pollution level, has hit the travel and tourism industry hard alongwith automobile industry with the aviation industry suffering and incurring heavy costs.

One of the worst impacts of this global pandemic can be observed from the state of quarantined citizens. Self quarantining oneself, lock down and being cut off from society bears a cost which everyone cannot afford. Those who live hand to mouth, daily wagers, are facing the social as well as economic consequences of this health pandemic. This has led even Capitalists to be on the backfoot and let the socialists holding the front line, announcing billion and trillion dollars worth covid19 relief packages. The US has signed a $2.2trillion rescue package followed by the UK with $365billion and India too on the laps with Rs.1.7 lakh crore as bailout packages.

Though the economy is beaten to pulp under this global Health threat, the situation is not all against. The sharp decline in Petroleum and oil prices can be proven as a great facilitator for revival of Economic Health. Though many industries are facing the grunt of coronavirus, some other industries such as online learning platforms, online shopping platforms, online gaming platforms and fitness and wellness equipment markets, and many more are expecting promising opportunities in near future.

Not just economically but environmentally, there is an optimistic transformation. Coronavirus itself is not contributing to the restoration of the environment, but it sure has led to mass lockdowns and shutdowns of industries resulting in drastic reductions of carbon emissions and improvement of air quality Globally. China’s and Italy’s NO₂ (Nitrogen Dioxide) emissions have drastically dropped. Delhi, infamous for having the worst air quality in the World, is recording all time low particulate matter pollution. 

One can literally observe the animals roaming free and social animals (humans) caged in their homes. Humans, self quarantining to protect themselves from the wrath of covid19, are indeliberately protecting the environment. 

Thus, we can say that covid-19 is a sinful blessing. Solidarity and basic mannerisms like washing hands for 20 seconds, not touching your mouth and nose,etc., are the key solutions to this Global Threat. 

This Global threat has also unfolded the exquisite unity worldwide with Nationalism and patriotism taking backseat and Humanity taking the wheels.

We’ve never faced the pandemic this dark;

but we never had that much solidarity and better opportunities

 to overshine it with our spark.