• Thursday, March 28, 2024
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BusinessDay

“COVID-19 and our new realities”.

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Coronavirus is upon us, and so is the general lockdown directive from first, the Federal government and then most of the states in Nigeria. This has become our new normal, and the way to go, given the highly contagious nature of this pandemic. The lockdown entails that shops, offices, markets and businesses, generally, are closed, except those who are able to work off-line, those in the frontlines providing help to the infected and those on other essential services.

In addition to staying away from as many people as possible to avoid infection, there is a need to maintain high levels of hygiene. Constant washing of hands with soap under running water, use of hand sanitizers with very high levels of alcohol, wearing of masks to cover the nose and mouth as well as hand gloves where necessary, avoidance of touching of our faces since the virus could get in through the facial orifices except the ears ( well this hasn’t been included) and social/physical distancing.

The stay-at home option ensures that the fear of contacting the disease is even more diminished. Some of the upside of the sit-at-home directive include:
• Working from home and loving it.
• Bonding with spouse and children.
• Creating time to introspect, re-strategize and re-create.
• Decluttering, re-arrangement of the closet(s), rooms, dieting, exercising and praying.
• Learning new skills which include culinary, singing, babysitting, cleaning, writing etc.
The list is inexhaustive, however, on the flip side are a few issues highlighted below:

• Boredom and a sense of helplessness
Most people have found the sudden change in their lifestyles quite overwhelming. We are no longer able to move about unfettered plus the infrastructural challenges experienced from being ‘lockdown’ at home. Therefore, with heightened inactivity occasioned by power issues, people are bored and also feel generally helpless.

Read also: Lagos, FCT residents spurn facemasks, social distancing as lockdown eases

• Domestic abuse:
This could be physical, sexual, emotional or psychological, and could be spousal or child related, mainly due to the overall sense of helplessness due to our present reality. The social media is awash with stories of all manner of abuses recorded since the lockdown. Spouses are either verbally abusing or even outrightly beating up their partners on the slightest of aggravation, children are being sexually abused by close family members, or being turned into punching bags by frustrated parents. Unfortunately, the lockdown offers the victims extraordinarily little opportunity to make requisite formal complaints. Gladly, the United Nations in conjunction with the Federal Government shared their contact details, via the news media, for the benefit of victims. Some other non-governmental organizations have also followed suit. While this is laudable, two challenges come to the fore: are the victims are aware of these interventions? If they are, what about their willingness to access this help?

• Loneliness: This could be of various kinds:
• It could be from spousal incompatibility or inability to resolve their marital issues. For instance, a couple who had hitherto, found their ‘escape’, at their workplaces or pubs is suddenly huddled up with this partner, in a limited space for several weeks. Of course, there will be arguments, antagonism and in some extreme cases, a breakdown of communication which either of the parties completely being alienated. Two people who should keep each other company have become estranged and therefore, lonely.

• There are also those who are happily married but had to be temporarily separated for reasons of work, study or leisure. Unfortunately, they were cut off in the lockdown and therefore longing to reunite with their families.

• How about those who live by themselves? Under this category are single mums, spinsters, bachelors and our senior citizens. With most domestic staff gone to be with their own families, this group of people is left lonely and helpless. Furthermore, friends, family, business associates and colleagues who, hitherto, filled the gap are no longer available and so, loneliness bites hard.

All these people categorized as lonely, luckily, have a few things to tide them through the day, ranging from social media, movie streaming, work, sleep and electronic communication with family and friends. However, their mental and even emotional health could be something to be considered. I am not a doctor and so do not have the capacity to discuss mental health issues associated with prolonged isolation in any detail, however, it is pertinent that this is well considered in decisions during this period.

There is also a bouquet of activities that could be incorporated in our daily lives to spice up our stay at home during this lockdown period. This is in addition to the benefits enumerated earlier in this document. The following could be considered:

• Develop a daily exercise regimen and adhere to it, in order to maintain general body fitness and enhanced well-being.

• Create time to introspect and reflect on your present circumstance(s), make plans to reinforce what is great, change what is not so great and decide on what to start doing going forward. All must be properly documented for referencing.

• Make peace with your creator, get closer to Him so that you can remain grounded and be a blessing to humanity. Reading/studying spiritual books and meditation could help you in self rediscovery and a charting a new lease of life.

• Above all, get a good sleep every day and watch a good movie when time permits.