There is nothing called convenience in a state of pandemic.

Traffic is back. Shops and establishments are slowly opening – but we notice many of them taking no precautions at all. Some say, Government has lifted the restriction and that means everything is getting back to normal. Truth is, many seem to know what Corona Virus is, but they have no idea of what a Pandemic is!

 Thought I would pen down few facts I understood:

1. Purpose of Lockdown? – Given the population, lockdown helps country like India to slow the spread of virus; most importantly lockdown helps buy-time to gear-up our healthcare, government policy, industry & people to prepare and adapt.
2. Critical Thinking for the future – the virus could mutate and become more severe; or the virus may mild down in the process and will stay along humans for ever just like any other viruses we have.
3. The Spanish Flu Pandemic 100 years back lasted for more than 2 years – more people died in the second wave, as the world underestimated the potency of the virus.
4. We are entering Rainy season followed by winter in India - that’s more than 6 months to go and this is the primary flu season, and club it with Covid we should expect our peak in India by July/August
5. To keep the economy moving Government is relaxing the lockdown – are we trying to return to normal too fast? Is that an indication for a Wave-II?
6. People are getting impatient, and are looking for convenience and freedom – many have misunderstood the relaxation and are taking it too lightly; we need 'immunity' much more than freedom or convenience.
7. Covid-19 is 5 month old and is progressing very fast – world has better systems now, but are we prepared to get through this virus with minimum damage? Clearly even the world’s best developed nations were not prepared. We have invested more in weapons than healthcare.
8. When Covid started spreading, we didn’t know how contagious corona virus was – truth is, we still don’t know the extent of impact this virus will have on the world.
9. Vaccine manufacturing requires materials – we don’t yet know which combination and what materials must be produced in mass quantity!
10. Manufacturing the basic materials required, and then manufacturing the vaccine itself will take years – average timeline in the past has been a decade. Let’s say Global collaboration will get to it’s best this time.
11. Vaccine supply-chain is a mammoth task to get it to every single human being on this planet – will take 1 year or more if the whole world cooperates and works towards a common goal.
12. You will get the virus, it's free - Almost everyone might get corona some day, plan to delay it as much as possible. Prepare for immunity. Just because 80% infected with corona will likely survive the virus, doesn't mean we will put our family and community at risk.

Some insights might help make reasonable decisions particularly if you are making hard choices for family, switching jobs, or taking decisions to manage your business - particularly if the struggle is to decide between surviving, sustaining or preparing for the future.

"There is nothing called convenience in a state of pandemic."

Stay Healthy, Stay Safe.