7 learning that COVID-19 has been teaching us
The current global COVID-19 pandemic is not as catastrophic as a world war. But we already started realising that it’s effects are going to be far-reaching with an economic and geo-political collapse. However, evolution of humankind has shown that no matter what, we do have the potential to rise against all odds and thus, I strongly feel there is still light at the end of the tunnel with possibilities and scopes for a better world.
So here are a few of the learning that COVID-19 has been teaching us:
Our lives are more valuable than anything else in the world.
In most parts of the world, the dramatic increase in the number of affected cases with the novel virus and mortality rates have led to seemingly and extreme government decisions with partial or complete lockdown to flatten the curve of the virus spread. Almost overnight, people have changed the way they live and have adapted to the changes where social distancing, self-isolation and quarantine lives are the new normal! The only priority at this point in time is to save our lives and absolutely nothing else. All the rat race that we wanted to chase and win in our lives seems irrelevant and makes no sense anymore, as survival is all we want now. Probably we are understanding how we chased our incessant goals and never pause to experience life, appreciate it and find meanings in it. All we need in life at this point in time is our basic essentials of life: food, water, shelter, sleep and clothing.
Our mother nature has been smiling back at us and our ozone layer is healing.
Did you know that back in China, 1.6 million premature deaths happen a year and recent studies have argued that the reduction in pollution caused by the COVID-19 lockdown may have saved 50,000 lives in return! Carbon emissions have reduced and there’s a definite change in biodiversity as our species are in a temporary retreat due to the lockdown; peacocks are being spotted on the roads of Kerala, India; deers are grazing a few miles from the White House, Washington. Destruction of humankind, hence, like creation, is one of nature’s mandates.
Health is wealth.
Day and night in every corner of the world- doctors, nurses and other healthcare professionals are working relentlessly to save lives. One of the major realisations for the humankind is that all across the world, the ratio between the healthcare providers and general population is alarmingly low. Thus, it’s a responsibility for human beings to encourage healthcare services, redistribute wealth to increase the welfare of health because at the end of the day, it is the basic needs and rights for every secure person.
Prevention is better than cure.
The archaic quote holds extremely true in the present times. PPE, N-95 masks, sanitizers and hand washes have become a mere luxury for many people across the world due to unavailability and also accessibility while it’s the only preventive measure to be taken to fight with the virus. Thus, it is indisputable that actions and proper measures are needed to make preventive measures more accessible to commoners until a cure comes.
How outdated and unnecessary our systems are.
Across the world, millions of students, teachers, employees have swiftly shifted to remote work from home, we might just realise how unnecessary and outdated our systems are. In many cases, although of course not all, it is a fair realisation for humankind that it is possible to work remotely, at least in part, without spending hours commuting and polluting the world. At least, the pandemic has taught us that all of us can maintain our productivity at work without wasting resources.
Importance of digital access.
Digital access must be seen as a utility all across the world just like, electricity and plumbing. The COVID-19 pandemic has taught us that creative partnership and the digital economy can create a better world for all. And it’s likely that we might permanently normalise the use of virtual technologies for socialising, businesses, education, healthcare, religious worships and even governmental functions.
Little joys in life.
As we stay back at home, with limited resources and no domestic help, we have the opportunity to discover the little joys of life that we probably have been missing out on; the utmost independence of looking after our self and our family with no distractions what so ever, gaining that ‘extra-time’ to explore and learn something new, rekindling our past and existing relationships, learning to share responsibilities equally and cooperate with everyone around us in and outside of our homes.
This too shall pass …
Probably soon we will get back to our normal lives but let’s just remember the learning that we have learnt in the last couple of months and let’s bring about change in the world because change starts with us and now we know, we have the power to do so.