The new global reality

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Reality is the state of things as they actually exist, as opposed to an idealistic or notional idea of them. The advent of the year 2020 was so promising, everyone was looking forward to it with the vigour and enthusiasm of a man with an uncontrollable penis. A lot of people the world over were talking of twenty plenty signifying that they were looking forward to the bountiful year 2020.

In late 2019 Wuhan City in China was struck with coronavirus that causes COVID-19. The world then thought the virus was a Chinese problem to an extent that even the most developed nations were hit with the virus unplanned. There are many conspiracy theories as to how the coronavirus came into existence. The American President has accused the Chinese government of making the virus in the lab and disputed their version of the virus has come from the wet market or bats. In his book In the eyes of darkness (1981) written more than 35 years ago, Dean Koontz foresaw the Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.  Trump accused the Chinese of lying about the seriousness of the virus and including covering up of the statistics. Coronavirus affects everyone, young, old, healthy, sick, rich and poor. From the statistics from China and Europe people with underlining conditions have been affected the most but don’t mean the virus only affects them. 

The major problem is equally as bad and dangerous as the pandemic is fake news and conspiracy theories. Most African countries initially believed that the coronavirus was only for white people in Europe and America, they also believed that black Africans would not be affected. Even a minister in Zimbabwe is on record claiming that COVID-19 was God’s punishment to the Americans for the sanctions they imposed on Zimbabwe. Which is just a fallacy. Some believed that there was a connection between COVID-19 and 5G. COVID-19 is serious and dangerous and the earlier everyone understands that the better for the world to become a better place. 

Prior to COVID-19 life was pretty normal, and normal means conforming to a standard, usual typical, or expected. The normal meant socialising, visiting each other,  parting, sharing, travelling locally and internationally, sharing a cigarette and or beer and all other things we have been doing before the national lockdown. The first case in South Africa came from Europe and Italy to be specific. Many countries took time to react to the threats coronavirus posed, it appears as though for many countries it was a case of choosing between a rock and a hard place or the frying pan and the fire. It was either the economy or the people hence the reason why most countries took time to close their boarders so as to stop imported infections. Europe and the United States of  America were hit hard regardless of their better and superior health care facilities. The main reason why that happened is because of the overwhelming number of patients who needed hospital beds and ventilators. The other reason, especially in Europe, was their ageing population which meant more risk for those aged ones. 

COVID-19 has rewritten the normal life as we know it and it has created the new normal. Life will never be the same again and it will take time to go back to where it was prior to the outbreak of the pandemic. This means that the world should all adapt to the new way of doing things, the new normal. This means that social gatherings will be a thing of the past. At all times people should practise social distancing, this is so because coronavirus spreads from tiny droplets from coughing and sneezing. Avoiding close contact will help manage the spread of the coronavirus. According to the Health Minister, Dr Zweli Mkhize between 60-70% of the population will be infected at some stage and that figure is scary given South Africa’s population size. 


Home has become the only safe place to be, it has been proven beyond a reasonable doubt that staying at home is a very effective way of mitigating the spread of coronavirus. Credit has to be given to President Ramaphosa who acted swiftly to try to contain the spread of the virus. He implemented numerous measures, lockdown is the biggest decision he made as the President. It was a choice between a rock and the hard place. However, the positive thing that came out of staying at home was family time. This means that in the absence of the virus in the household families are now able to spend more time with their loved ones at home. Spending time with the family is now the new global reality. 


However, the downside of spending time at home means that expenditure on food increases, generally speaking, people eat more when confined to one place. The expenditure on groceries increases. The way we shop now has completely changed. The number of people who enters the shops is now limited. Most big retail shops limit people in the shops to a hundred at any given time. Everyone else queues outside and at least one meter apart. These measures are necessary for trying to slow down the infection rate. 


Spending time roaming around the mall is now a thing of the past. The risk of infection is in the crowds and it makes so much sense that people must stop unnecessary loitering. The coronavirus will inevitably spread but if the people follow on the government and WHO guidelines, the effects will be minimal. Change is known to be difficult for most people and people generally do not want to change. COVID-19 is here to stay as long as there is no vaccine, so it’s either one adapts or one dies. 


Wearing masks is now a must and must be mandatory and compulsory, it must be gazetted in the Government Gazette, it’s the new global reality. Everyone must wear a mask when going out of their homes for whatever reason. In my opinion, masks are the current panacea after lockdown and in the absence of a vaccine. Lockdown can’t be enforced forever and governments can’t continuously extend it. The economic effects are already dire. If lockdown persists in its current form in most countries, the majority of people will die of hunger. The effects of COVID-19  will be far less than the havoc the dead economy would create if lockdown persists in its current form. 

COVID-19 has redefined the way people do things, Educations medium has been redefined online education is a new global reality. School children are safe at home and as a result, Governments should invest in technology infrastructure. Each and every household must have Wi-fi and free Wi-Fi would be more ideal. Fibre is, however, the best. Each home must have at least one computer so that online education can be advanced. 

A lot of companies, big or small will close shop as much as the government has offered R500 billion COVID-19 stimulus package.  As a result, Jobs will be lost across the world. Many households will struggle and the effects will last at least two years. This means that it's now imperative for one to learn new skills online e.g. coding, digital marketing. Technology-based skills are the new in-thing and mandatory if one has to mitigate the effects of COVID-19.


The majority of our time will be spent online now and into the future. Socialising as we know it will be a thing of the past. Remote socialising through online channels is the new global reality. Most companies who can afford will start investing in infrastructure that enables their employees to work from home. The tourism industry will be the hardest hit by the new reality. International travel will never be the same again, It will take time before countries to fully open their borders. COVID-19 is now in charge. To stay safe always wear a mask, practise social distancing, wash your hands regularly, don’t touch your face, sanitise and avoid crowds. 

By Perseverance Makurira

http://perseverancem.blogspot.com

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