DIARY OF A ‘LOCKED DOWN’ MOTHER (5)
By Oris Ikiddeh
IN THE WAKE OF COVID-19 IN ABUJA, NIGERIA’S FEDERAL CAPITAL CITY
SOCIAL DISTANCING — MY NEIGHBOURS AND I — PART FIVE
“Are you in? Just taking a walk around and thought to stop by and greet.” That was my neighbour who lives down the road phoning. I was shocked. “Haa!!! I am home but please no stopping by to greet. Please stay indoors or walk alone”. She could hear how agitated I was on the phone. I peeped through my curtains and saw her standing by the gate and after a few seconds, she passed by. Please! Social distancing! Stay indoor! — What part of these four words do we not understand?
My other neighbour brought me some pepper and onions the other day. I asked them to drop the items by gate, with a promise to pick up when they were gone. It is that serious. Are you laughing? I mean it, it is that serious.
By nature, each human is a ‘communal being’ that survives by interaction with other humans. Life without people is no life, and that is why the lockdown is boring and tiring. That is why people are reacting the way they are. Like the saying goes, “People are our pride and joy”. We like to interact, see things and see other people.
I was watching the news yesterday and I was sad. The governor of my State, Abia State was distributing food to people in the State. Large numbers of people gathered with over 90% of them not wearing any form of face mask or hand gloves; only the Governor and his team were face-masked. I asked the question — Food and COVID-19…which would you prefer?
Last week, I ran out of bread and needed to go to the shop, armed with my face mask and hand sanitizer. Within the narrow space in-between shells, I bumped against people, the shop was full. Should I just hold my breathe or breathe in tiny ‘nosefuls’ of air? One of the shoppers in that narrow space was annoyingly talking on his phone, without face mask, probably throwing the virus around if he was infected. I hurriedly picked the bread and fled to the cashier. Another problem that arose was the POS I had to make payments with. I wondered how many fingers punched these buttons, my mind reminding me how many hours the virus survived on surfaces. I punched in my pin extra fast and quickly doused my hands in sanitizer that was thankfully on the cashier’s table.
My friend told me about how she had run out of fruits and veggies at home so she quickly dashed to the market to buy some. The market was full, and people moved around without any care and no face masks. How do you social distance in a shop? See the trouble we are in?
In Nigeria, I guess some of us are living in self-denial. We still do not think COVID-19 is real or better still, even if it is real, it will not come to us. Really?! That is playing with fire around a tanker filled with gas (fuel).
It is important that we realize now more than ever that COVID-19 is real. The realities of this ‘time’ is staring us in the face. Living in self-denial is like digging one’s grave or digging the graves of others that you might infect if you are asymptomatic (having the virus but without signs).
Let me explain the meaning of social distance in the wake of COVID-19 and its benefits.
Social distancing is the practice of purposefully reducing close contact between people. According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), social distancing means: Remaining out of “congregate settings” as much as possible; Avoiding mass gatherings; Maintaining distance of about 6 feet from others when possible.
Social distancing is important for everyone right now, but those of us who are at higher risk of serious complications caused by COVID-19 should be especially cautious about social distancing. People who are more at high risk of complications include: Older adults; People who have serious chronic medical conditions like heart disease, diabetes and lung disease. It is crucial that we religious adhere to the social distancing for preventing the spread of contagious illnesses such as COVID-19 (coronavirus). COVID-19 can spread through coughing, sneezing and close contact. By minimizing the amount of close contact, we have with others, we reduce our chances of catching the virus and spreading it to our loved ones and within our community. (Ref. Conehealth — Wellness Matters)
We cannot deny that, these are strange and trying times. COVID-19 has changed the whole world and our ways of thinking and living. After this period, global views and relationships will never be the same again. For some, they have adapted quickly and are coping, taking it mildly and going by the day while for others, it is severe and life-sapping, some are just irritated and angry. Whichever way we are taking it, that is the reality of our new world. That is the ‘Global Sense’ now.
Staying at home is giving me the opportunity to bond more with my family, learning to cope with having everyone in one space for almost three weeks now. It might be uncomfortable sometime, but it is for the good of everyone, and in the long-run we will all be out and happy again. Since I got married almost 20-years ago, I do not think I have had the opportunity to stay with my husband for one whole week locked up in one small space. I see the bright lining in the dark night. What are you seeing? How are you making the best of this time?
What is your coping mechanism as the days go by? Let’s keep talking. In Part 6, I will share with you how my family and I spent Easter. Hmmm…that is one story you would love to hear.
REMEMBER, SOCIAL DISTANCING AND STAYING INDOOR REMAINS THE ONLY PREVENTIVE MEASURE AGAINST COVID-19.
Read Part 1 here.
Read Part 2 here.
Read Part 3 here.
Read Part 4 here.
