As the unprecedented and obstinate novel coronavirus, SARS-CoV-2, that causes the disease COVID-19 crossed the mark of 29.3 m worldwide, in India, there is a rapid spread of it with the average of three thousand cases per day. which went beyond the record of 4.93 m as on September 15 with over 80,000 deaths nationwide. Timorous people are wandering across the country to go back to their home due to scarcity of food and money.
Police personnel and medical staffs are working as the barriers in front of draconian COVID-19 who are the only ray of hope in this pandemic. Despite all these things that are happening all around us, one thing that human beings should learn is to start respecting nature because this planet belongs to everyone who is living here. This contemporary time has taught us many life lessons which are impossible to understand without feeling this particular time.
First: Prioritise Nature
Preserving nature should be our first objective. According to the United Nations Environment Programme Frontiers Report 2016, the leading cause for the Ebola outbreak in Africa was the aftermath of forest loss or in one word: deforestation. Due to the massive loss of trees which is also the home of many wild animals and birds, these species of birds and animals are forced to live nearby in the cities and result in the interaction between humans and wild animals increases and causes various diseases.
Preserving nature does not include trees and plants only, but it also includes animals and birds. As after the outbreak of coronavirus, a Chinese city banned the eating of all wild animals which should be accepted and appreciated worldwide.
Second: Emphasise On E-learning
Education has also been affected by this epidemic. The government is directing the universities to take online classes via some video conferencing call apps, namely Whatsapp and Zoom, but in India, online study is not feasible for many students. Students who belong to rural areas are ineffective in terms of online education due to lack of facilities and awareness.
Most of the teachers who are above 40 years are not aware of many of the online applications. In many areas, students are facing network issues, and some even do not know about devices like laptops and smartphones due to lack of money. So, the Government should focus more on online learning and aware students residing in rural areas about this.
Third: Importance Of Healthcare System
SARS, Nipah virus, and now COVID-19 has made the people and governments all around the world realise the importance of the healthcare system. Doctors are fighting against the virus by standing alone on the frontline. Some doctors have lost their lives while curing the COVID-19 patients due to the lack of facilities and protective gears. Investing in the healthcare system is a profitable deal for any country which eventually will save them from dying.
Fourth: Act First, Cure First
The pandemic has shown the seriousness of the government towards this virus. Indian Government, as well as the American government, were not serious towards the coronavirus crisis. On January 30, India reported first COVID-19 positive case in Kerala.
But, even after a month of the first case, our government was busy welcoming Mr Trump by gathering lakhs of people in Gujarat on February 24. Manipur was the first state which took COVID-19 seriously and started screening the tourists arriving in their state, and as a result, it does not have any positive case presently. And also, there should be better facilities for poor people.
This epidemic has taught us many life lessons and made us realise the importance of nature. This contemporary time has also taught us the importance of healthcare professionals, vegetable vendors, delivery agents, police personnel, and most importantly, the daily caring and loving phone calls of parents. So, in the end, I want to conclude by quoting an advertisement line of The Hindu newspaper: “All it took was a microscopic organism to make us more Human”.