The World In The Time of Corona

SO  much has changed in a space of a few weeks, days even. Last January, we all found out (and mildly panicked) about this virus, called the Novel Coronavirus. All of a sudden, we find out just  last week, that Italy became one of the hardest hit nations outside of China and went on total lock down. Then suddenly, my own country declared community quarantine and then one by one everyone else all over the world started doing the same. It was truly frightening to basically see the WHOLE world just shutting down over night and suddenly finding ourselves in the most uncertain of times. Everyone is  staying at home. Malls, bars, restaurants were closing and all of us are advised to practice "social distancing". This meant not seeing your friends and even some close family members physically for who knows how long. Times are very, very weird right now. 

Hospitals and front liners are being pushed to the limits with the weight of the virus and the possibility that there may not be enough facilities and enough supplies to treat everyone should there be a full on outbreak. This is one of the reasons why we all need to do our part to maintain social distancing and voluntarily go on self isolation or quarantine. It's important now, more than ever to #stayhome and try to help flatten the curve so we can contain and prevent the spread of the virus. The parties can wait. The travels can be put on hold.

Whilst spending all this time at home I (along with probably most people who are staying at home) have a mixture of fear, panic and guilt. Fear and panic because we don't know how all this is going to pan out. How long is this going to last? Will the virus ever be contained? Will more people die? Will the economy collapse? Will we run out of food? And most especially we feel guilt because as annoying as it may seem to just stay home all the time, its absolutely NOTHING compared to what all the doctors, nurses, health workers and front liners have to face on a daily basis. Also for those who do not have the privilege of working from home and may lose their jobs dues to establishments shutting down - how are they going to feed their families? How can it be so easy to stay at home for some yet a matter of life and death for others?

In these trying times, it's a relief to see humanity shine through. I've seen on social media how everyone is really making an effort to help and reach out in any way they can in the community. My own high school batch and several other batches have started gathering donations to support the local public hospital, big companies are donating and ensuring their employees are protected from losing out on income and their jobs and one celebrity gathered donations for street vendors who are all affected by the quarantine. I hear local designers are also making reusable masks - to donate to front liners and also to provide options for the general public so that we don't take up and finish all the supplies that are needed more by the medical community. It's actions like these that make us all hopeful that we will come out of this in one piece,especially if we all work together and remain united. 

I think also that we all still have to go on with our routine and lives, albeit from home. My sister and I have decided to temporarily close our shoe operations until the end of March, in an effort to protect ourselves and our partners and in compliance with the community quarantine. I will still continue though to post content in our Instagram account and  in this blog. We could all use a break every now and then from scary corona news and also negativity from those who choose to spread it. At the same time, it's important that we are looking out for one another in our respective communities. Now is the time where it has ever been more urgent to be looking out for one another, asking our front liners what they need help with, reaching out to those who are affected by the lock downs and community quarantines and keeping in touch with your closest family and friends. It's dark times now but we can and must remain optimistic that we all get through this - together.

World Health Organization link : https://www.who.int/
Department of Health (Philippines) : https://www.doh.gov.ph/