June 22
UNINVITED, Covid-19 sneakily came in. It brought ill-effects to humankind. To date, more than 6.3 million people across the world succumbed to it. Mercy is not on Myanmar’s side as well with the fatality of almost 20,000 so far. Though survived, we still reel from the grief that is further compounded by business loss, job loss, income loss, opportunity loss and whatnot. Negative images abound around us.
Covid-19 seems diminished and subsided now. But it is not entirely out of view. Our present livelihood still poses precarious and insecure. Nevertheless, we have to move on with great cautions against Covid-19.
We have combated Covid-19 with 3Ns (New Normal Norms) that stay rooted in us for now and ever. Keeping abreast with the changes in personal hygiene and workplace hygiene, there is a beacon of hope shining on us amid fear of Covid-19.
A Japanese saying goes: “Adversity is a foundation of virtue.” This adversity of Covid-19 does make us wise. Indeed, now we are wiser than before.
It is a social cohesion that conquers Covid-19. The community where everyone is somehow connected as families or relatives or friends or residents plays an important role to get us united by sharing and caring in the face of Covid-19. Everyone is an equal living object under the sky irrespective of race or religion or region or social status.
The world has witnessed the humanitarian contributions extended to the needy — persons or nations by the rich ones offering food, medication, vaccination as well as monetary assistance. A sense of humanity matters most in the way we live. This is the primary insight shown to everyone on earth on how to appreciate the very present moments of togetherness and live a fulfilling and purposeful life.
Our daily actions and undertakings have been so far aligned and fitted with 3Ns that get personal hygiene developed by –
• wearing masks indoors/outdoors whenever necessary,
• getting hands washed at the entry of the workplace,
• working at six feet distance from others,
• coughing or sneezing into elbow or paper tissue,
• disposing of the soiled substances into a covered bin,
• avoiding spitting in open or public places,
• having a meal at own desk or 6 feet away from others,
• taking off clothes for washing and taking bath upon arrival at home, and
• having nutritious food intake and staying fit with sufficient rest /sleep.
Likewise, the workplace hygiene is boosted by 3 Ns of –
• sanitizing daily on desks/ chairs/hand-touch areas – a doorknob, handle, remote control, flask button, etc,
• disinfecting weekly on the floor and wall,
• opening the windows for some time to get natural ventilation,
• installing sufficient wash basins at entry/exit points of the work compound,
• providing rest areas with good ventilation,
• facilitating online meeting With repeated follow-ups day by day, the changed practices are consistently instilled and become normalized norms for all. People have learned to transform and get themselves value-added with moral goodness. A smart nation needs such public-spirited and well-behaved citizens.
Beyond midnight the darkness starts to fade away making a way for light. Cons of Covid-19 make a way for pros of such a virtue based on ethics of humanity. Altruism sets to thrive. It is good in every evil.
