Human and Economy lockdown should not last longer than necessary
KG Nesta
On March 25, 2020, the eve of coronavirus induced lockdown, I wrote an Op-Ed titled, “Aa sha jeun” (Man must wack) where I chronicled how the lockdown will make life a bit difficult for people as they will not be able to go out for their #DailyBread.
I envisaged how people, especially from the informal sector, who depends on daily income/wages will be agitated because of hunger. As predicted, coronavirus is now keeping almost everything and everyone on the edge. We are human beings; our businesses are on life support, hunger is becoming the face of Covid-19. Some people have run out of money and more are running out of money. Our body systems, dynamics and psychology are all running out of energy and becoming restless, wanting to get back to our normal life.
Prolonged lockdown of humans and economy portrays unpredictable and dangerous effect on social life, businesses and security. It’s time to press the reset button of gradual reopening of the economy. It’s not just to enforce lockdown without proffering solutions on how to curtail and manage Covid-19 spread. Life must go on. People are hungry! A hungry man is an angry man. Government should factor how HUNGER will be reduced in their lockdown plan. It is agreed that coronavirus is deadly and has killed, and still killing people. However, there is a need to strike a balance between opening the economy for the survival of businesses, reducing ravaging hunger and implementing continuous strategy for managing the COVID -19 scourge.
Coronavirus is no longer new to us. We have heard a lot about it. A lot of precautionary measures and advisory has been renting the airwaves. What we need to do, as people, is to begin to learn how to manage and cope with coronavirus as we have been coping and managing the scourge of Malaria, HIV, Tuberculosis and other deadly diseases. We should not expect coronavirus to completely go away before reopening the economy. Government should create a balance; a strategic balance and implementation work plan of gradual opening of the economy and aggressive management of COVID-19 spread and curtailment. We should be prepared to combat its second wave headlong, if it happens.
Government should use campaign-style strategy to reach people with information and palliatives. They know how to reach people during campaigns. Constant information on Medical and health advisory should rent the airwaves, down to rural areas. Personal respiratory hygiene should be adhered. Anyone with symptoms of covid-19 should know what to do. Those with underlining health issues should restrict going to large gatherings. Mouth/Nose mask should be worn by all, maintaining social distancing should still be obeyed etc. Walk-in Covid-19 testing centers should at least be in every LG hq to enable people to know their Covid-19 status. Testing is very crucial! Premium should be giving to testing. More COVID-19 cases are not immediately known because of non- testing!
In conclusion, we must put the covid-19 situation in a balance! If we are waiting for coronavirus to go out completely before reopening of the economy, it may take a very long time and a lot of things may go bad beyond repairs! It is time to use coronavirus situation to reset our thinking and make the society a better place for all. Lock down is just one part of the equation, it’s not the silver bullet. We should not wait for human survival instincts to begin to fight the lockdown order. Let there be gradual reopening of the economy.
KG Nesta writes from Port Harcourt.
