Recently, a deadly virus has spread all across the world infecting many people and killing more than thousands. Coronavirus COVID-19 is a newly discovered virus belonging to the family of viruses that cause diseases in animals. According to sources, this virus first originated in China and started spreading to other countries rapidly because of its contagiousness. This is basically a droplet infection which quickly gets transmitted from one to another. It spreads through the droplets discharged from the nose and mouth when an affected person coughs or sneezes. The symptoms of COVID-19 are quite similar to common cold like fever, lethargy and cough. But the other symptoms include shortness of breath, aches and pains, sore and some people were also said to have found with diarrhoea, nausea or a running nose (WHO). The people infected with coronavirus have also experienced moderate respiratory illness. But people with already existing illness such as cardiac problems, diabetes, chronic respiratory disease and cancer are very vulnerable and are prone to suffer more leading to death. Elderly people are also more vulnerable to get affected than younger ones.
Measures initiated to control Coronavirus
Till now there no vaccines and particular treatment directed to the disease. But doctors, medical experts and scientists are conducting researches and trying to develop an antidote for the disease. As it is a contagious disease and there is no specific treatment, it is important to limit the chances of transmission. Therefore it is essential to maintain physical distance from everyone because it the only way to keep the degree of spreading at a manageable level. Therefore many countries including India have declared lockdown exempting essential and emergency services. At present, physical contact is a threat and that’s why the government has applied quarantine laws to isolate the people and maintain safety measures.
The widespread impact of coronavirus left everyone helpless and that’s why distancing is the only way to combat the disease. While distancing can act as an element of alienation, social solidarity and empathetic behavior can strengthen community bonds and maintain healthy life. In such a time of crisis expressing love and support to fellow community members can go a long way to deal with the emotional labour of being in isolation.
“Physical distancing” or “Social distancing”?
In all the countries, the government, various organizations, media and individuals have adopted the term “social distancing” to make the people aware for maintaining distance from one another to curb the spread of COVID-19. But some of experts opined that the term can be confusing to many people since the idea of “social” involves the ties, relations and associations of an individual within the society. Daniel Aldrich, a professor at the Northeastern University thinks that the semantics of the term are misleading to the people and that’s why he urged that there should be a social connectedness along with physical distancing. The literal conception of maintaining distance and living in isolation is reflected in physical distancing. It has been advised to avoid proximity while standing together to break the chain of transmission of the disease. This is the idea of physical isolation which has been emphasized to fight the pandemic crisis of coronavirus. The WHO has also preferred to use the term “physical distance” rather than “social distance” for better understanding of the concept.
Most of the countries affected with COVID-19 are undergoing lockdown with the suspension of all non-essential activities including schools and colleges. Only the essential service providers are allowed to operate. Considering the present context one psychologist from the US opined that rather than stressing on social distancing it is better to practice distant socializing ( Greenaway, Saeri, Cruwys, THE CONVERSATION). It is high time to address the social connections and promote emotional support to maintain the mental well being in the quarantine period. Living in isolation can make someone emotionally weak and gives rise to negative feelings like anger, loneliness, anxiety etc but socializing and keeping in touch with people using different mediums of communication can help to stay positive in times of crisis. The virtual world is taking care of the people in terms of creating connections and keeping in contact with the near and dear ones. Providing support and being empathetic towards one another in gloomy times help to nullify the negative emotions of self destruction and build confidence rather than breaking down mentally. Hence it is important to preach the idea that physical distancing is temporary to eradicate the disease but social connections or associations are permanent and such feelings of solidarity can exist in any form even when one’s social circle is absent physically.
Social solidarity challenging physical distance
The present pandemic situation has compelled everyone living under quarantine to make certain sacrifices for the betterment of self and the society at large. Some are depressed and are left alone in their homes. Some are in the isolation wards of hospitals while some are staying far away from their family and loved ones due to lockdown and border restrictions. This period has made everyone use alternative connections of communications mandatory. Hangouts and meet ups have been replaced by conference calls or group video calls, chatting with neighbors from balconies, office work has been replaced with work from home and lots more. This is how social solidarity has been preserved among people.
Apart from emotional support and well being of the mind social solidarity challenges division among people and enhances unity and harmony. At the present situation, it is more important to control the widespread impact of the disease rather than blaming who is responsible for this. Standing beside the doctors and other health professionals, government and the administration will help to fight against the crisis together in a more efficient manner which can also protect the health conditions of the community at large. In some parts of India it is seen that individuals, organizations are making sanitizers, masks etc and distributing them among the people so that such essentials are available to everyone even when the market runs out of stock. To survive this pandemic crisis the contribution of each and every individual is counted.
In other two instances it was seen that people in Spain and Italy are clapping and singing from their balconies to keep their positive spirits high in such a terrible situation. Other than China, death rates related to coronavirus are massive in Italy and Spain. Despite constant life threat, unfortunate deaths and quarantine life these people have found music and clapping as ways to encourage themselves to remain strong and spread positive vibes. Such acts of positivity received huge appreciation in the social media and inspired people all the world to fight the pandemic. If not anything else such acts surely divert the minds of the people from stressful situations and let them express solidarity beyond barriers of lockdown and quarantine norms.
