The beginning. Observations. Covid-19 March 2020

So, here we all are in the midst of a pandemic.  The news channels of the world report nothing else.  Numbers of fatalities rise daily on the ticker tapes.  New terms have been coined such as social distancing, self isolation, testing, quarantine.  Even the name of the virus 2019 Novel Coronavirus, Corona Virus, Covid-19, SARS-coV-2 is enough to perplex one, but what about everything else surrounding this outbreak?

Many countries are in lock down, including South Africa.  In fact South Africa has had one of the most draconian lock downs of all.  A level 5 state of disaster was initially introduced at the end of March.  Even now that the threat level has been reduced to 4, no one is allowed out of their homes unless the trip is essential.  Food shopping and seeking medical assistance being two examples.  Police and the army man road blocks to check on where citizens are going and receipts proving a trip are checked.  Alcohol and cigarettes have been banned and many non-essential goods cannot be bought.  This lock down has caused many negative spin-offs, the main one being no work no pay for a huge number of casual workers.  This has resulted in a severe lack of money and therefore the inability to buy food in many areas.  Hungry people are beyond desperate and there have been riots at the lack of promised government assistance.  During these riots social distancing has fallen by the wayside.  Food trucks have been stoned, overturned and looted.  Bottle stores have been looted and the black market trade in cigarettes and liquor is roaring.  Hints at corruption and improper distribution of food parcels are rife.  Starving people shout at TV camera's that they would rather die of Covid-19.  On the other hand, the more affluent areas have set up food drives that have bridged the gap and fed thousands all funded from kind public pockets, but sadly this cannot go on indefinitely as once thriving businesses fail.  In the midst of all this, some feel that flaunting the rules to go out and walk their dogs, visit friends or jog is their right.  This has caused an outcry from law abiding citizens and accusations of snitching curtain-twitchers from others.  Facebook is flooded with angry commentary from both sides.  The idea that the social distancing that a lock down ensures contains the spread seems silly to some who argue "How can one person jogging spread the disease?"  Well, logically it can't, but if one does it others will follow suit and then what is the point of  containment?  Now that the threat level has been lowered and exercise is allowed between 6am and 9am, joggers and walkers swarm in the dark early morning hours.  Surfers have staged protests as the sea is off limits.  Accusing, angry voices shout loudly as the authorities attempt to enforce the law.   Some are happy to remain at home while others kick with all their might against the lock down.  The differing points of view have caused rifts as ripples of resentment and anxiety abound and people tut-tut the views of others.   It would appear that to date very little is known about this virus.  The news reports flip flop from one fact to another.  We don't know for sure where it came from.  Some suggest a mutation from bats to pangolins, others suggest it was man-made.  It would seem from the way it has engulfed the world that it is virulent.  It would also seem that in critical cases death is assured as it attacks the lungs, overwhelms the system and causes multi-organ failure.  This risk is especially high in people with underlying cardiac and lung disease, diabetes, immunosupression and increased age.  Spread is said to be via exhaled droplets from infected people.  These droplets land on surfaces and the virus is further spread by contaminated hands touching faces.  Ironically the best way to protect ourselves is to simply wash hands well with soap.  Cleaning surfaces from car door handles, steering wheels and gear sticks to counters has become common place, as has the sanitizing of anything that has the potential to be infected such as keys, glasses and shopping.  Shoes are sanitized, clothes are washed immediately and people shower after going out into the world.  Masks have suddenly become a standard piece of apparel.  People are manufacturing and selling cloth masks left, right and center.  There is no standard in place yet, so this may pose a problem due to the miniscule size of the droplets breaching the weave of the fabric.   The reason so many health care workers are testing positive seems to be because they are in constant close contact with patients and despite being dressed like Ghostbusters in Personal Protective Equipment, the virus still manages to spread.  The lack of consistent information and the dearth of fake news masquerading as fact does not help quell the underlying panic.  The absence of the usual tried and tested medical treatment we have come to expect has humanity on the back foot.  This has caused a slew of conspiracy theories hinting at all manner of domination tactics by the powers that be.  Some are outraged that their freedom is being purposely curtailed saying Covid-19 is no worse than the annual influenza outbreaks.  There are those who are of the opinion that despite high fatalities, there is no such thing as Covid-19.  There are theories about the 5G connection and the real reason behind the future vaccine is to nano-chip us all.  These theories may or may not have a kernel of truth in their origins, but the bottom line is there is something out there that is spreading rapidly and is killing people.  To down play or deny the existence of this unprecedented global event seems rather naive until we know more.  Human psychology will find ways to attempt to make an abnormal situation seem normal and if the situation is beyond their control, find sometimes bizarre ways to justify it.  Wherever Covid-19 came from or whatever it's purpose actually is is neither here nor there, it is a threat to health, to wealth and our mental well being as humans.  To nature however, it is a blessing.

Jabbering on.

This is for those of us common and garden variety humans who don’t claim to be anything but confused and fed up.  The hot topic of, scream, conversation is Covid19 and whether or not you have been jabbed.  Whatever your bent, it is divisive.  To actually voice that you are not a fan of vaccination is to have people suddenly turn on you like scalded cats hissing science-speak.  To say you have had your vaccination is to have people either look at you incredulously or pat you on the back and congratulate you.  Public berating is rife on social media platforms.  There is no middle ground.  What Covid19 has done is divide people.  It has caused families to break up, friends to unfriend and enclaves to form.  And this is just the beginning.  Divide and conqueror?  Oh, sorry, let me not sound like a conspiracy theorist.  That is not my aim.  The problem here as I see it, is multi-layered.  From the start, Covid19 has been mired in a smog of speculation.  Where did it come from, bats?  Pangolins, wet markets, China even?  Man made or zoonotic, a bit of both, none of the above?  Did some silly idiot drop a test tube and go “whoops” and has been feeling a bit guilty ever since?   What about the 5G connection?  Are aliens involved?  There are still no answers.  What we know for sure is that people are getting sick.  But. . .  some are sick, but not sick, some are sick-sick and recover and some tragically die.  Co-morbidities increase risk, but then a spanner is thrown in the works as a young, fit and healthy person dies.  The apparent randomness of the virus has us all feeling as if we are playing a game of Russian Roulette.  You would think that this would encourage everyone to rush out and beg for the vaccine, but not all are doing this.  Why?  There are many reasons, but the most commonly offered are safety concerns due to rushed vaccines, that it would seem vaccines have not been sufficiently time tested, possible severe side effects and long term effects are at this point unknown.  To clarify I offer this analogy.  If some random person, who doesn’t look too much like a serial killer, offers you a sweet, do you take it, pop it into your mouth and say thank you?  Humans are naturally cautious, it is called survival instinct.  Some want to be sure that what they are being told to do is safe.  They want to wait, watch and make decisions on their own terms.  Many are feeling bludgeoned by the constant calls to vaccinate and guilted, not only by their families and friends, but by their governments as well.  The latest headlines are telling us that 99% of people dying from Covid19 are those unvaccinated, yet vaccination hesitancy is causing concern world wide.  So, call it rebellion, rebellion as a way to attempt to regain a modicum of control in this unfamiliar world, call it un-common sense, call it stupidity.  Whatever the reasons, the bottom line is it is the real fear of the, as yet, known.  This is a direct result of the way the pandemic has been handled.  Just a year and eight months ago, the people of the world were thrust into the grip of a novel, meaning new, disease.  Medical staff were literally treating patients through trial and error as no one really knew how the virus worked.  Lockdowns have ruined and isolated people from their living and dying loved ones causing huge distress.  The ‘new normal’ demanded sudden, atypical behaviourial changes and “Coronaspeak.”  Daily slews of misinformation, fake news and conspiracy theories have engendered suspicion of anything calling itself truth.  Is it such a surprise then that seeds of doubt have germinated in people’s minds.  I wonder if there is anyone on the planet who is 100% sure that what they are doing or not doing is in fact correct.  For those who have been vaccinated or plan to be, that is OK too.  You have every right to make your choice.  It is a personal decision that does not require any outside approval.  The antithetical nature of the camps, however, will probably result in it becoming as taboo to question anyone about their vaccination status as it is to ask about their earnings.  Things start to become even more murky when the people tasked with looking after our health start turning against each other.  Now people who are supposedly the brightest of the bright, are making the career-killing decisions to make their opinions known.  Another divisive event.  If a doctor isn’t an epidemiologist is he or she not au fait with the workings of the virus?  Is there a sector of doctors who are mentally ill as was alleged?  (If so, can we have a list of names please.)  Why is questioning all this met with such hostility?  I did not write this because I wish to sway people’s opinions for or against the vaccine.  I am pontificating on why this subject is such a minefield of controversy, vitriol and consequentially, angst.