Adherence to new normal holds key to containing COVID-19

By Tanzeel Rauf Farooqui
(Pakistan News & Features Services)

When these lines are being written, as per official statistics of the Government of Pakistan, there are 160,118 confirmed cases of the coronavirus out (COVID-19) out of which 97,810 cases are still active. Unfortunately, we have already lost 3,093 lives to this novel virus and the death toll continues increasing very rapidly now. 

These rising number of cases depict that Pakistan’s war with this virus is long from over, as almost on a daily basis, 5,000 plus cases are being recorded.

In these alarming times, all the citizens of Pakistan must adjust their lifestyles and step out of their comfort zones in order to combat this deadly virus. 

The World Health Organization (WHO), from time to time, has been advising the nations to observe social distancing and make use of the protective measures, which are not limited to wearing of face masks and the usage of sanitizers. 

This has become the definition of the new normal as, at the moment, there is no other way to contain this contagious virus and flatten the curve of the cases. 

It is rather unfortunate that we, the citizens in general in Pakistan, have not taken this virus seriously yet. As soon as the lockdown was eased by the government, we witnessed masses of the population flooding the markets and despite several requests by multiple governmental and social individuals, the use of face masks and observance of the principles of social distancing was hardly ever witnessed.

At this hour of war, we must forgo our interests for the greater good, for our elderly, for our weak, as they are the ones who are at the greatest of risk at the hands of this virus.

It is obviously impossible to stay inside at all times, but whenever stepping out, we must equip ourselves with the armor that is required to stop the further spreading of the coronavirus. 

As responsible citizens and for the sake of our elders, all of us must adhere to the measures laid out by the WHO in order to save ourselves and our loved ones. 

Almost every other day we come across the reports in media and the stories narrated by our friends and families of the difficulties that patients infected with the coronavirus go through, and for avoiding that, we must contain ourselves to our homes as much as possible. 

This is the new normal, the harsh and bitter truth, and we must realize this. Let’s obey social distancing, use face masks and sanitizers and hope for a better tomorrow but remember, hope alone is not enough, we must strive in the right direction for positive results.