Clad in shorts and a lazy man’s shoe, I was standing right outside the gate of my house recently when a man was crossing the road to greet his long lost friend. I presumed so simply from the palpable intimacy seen in their eyes, flushed faces and wide smiles.
They shook hands first; followed by a tender hug- a dime a dozen salutations to many of us. They wore no face mask and neither had gloves in their hands. Then it happened. Hysterically, one of them said, “Oh My God!’ and reflexed stepping some distance away. The other man stood still dumbfolded surprised by the ordeal; like a deer caught in a headlight.
Then the first man took a vial containing sanitizer from his pocket to clean both of his hands swiftly. He didn’t even mind sharing it with his friend. It was kind of hilarious to watch their faces that were flushing quite a while ago going pale and the smiles fading. The yearning to spend few times together was stolen by the fear and anxiety of contracting corona virus.
No doubt that these two people are well informed about the means of transmission of corona virus. It was easy to tell from their reflexes. Cultural salutation and many of our norms are installed in the deepest part of our identity, which are inculcated through out our lives. Hence, there is always the urge to act or do out of simple reflexes. Old habits die hard.
Peculiar to us, we are endowed with affluent religious rituals and ceremonies that call for public gathering. Our values are established under the auspices of various social, cultural and religious activities. Almost everything we do, we do it together. We even gather to sit and enjoy our coffee in the neighborhood. It is my personal best conviction, maintaining physical distance could not be the best solution for us; since this could be as difficult as establishing a new life style overnight.
True, we should always try to maintain distances. Yet something that works in the west may not work for us; or Africa in general. Maintaining physical distance may work for a westerner who goes to the office driving his wagon, goes to a mart to buy his food and coffee, and comes home safely. We have completely a different life style. Against the back drop; it is a high time for nations rich in communal way of life, cultural and religious undertakings to seriously consider any public gatherings. Ethiopian is in a serious trouble, in this regard.
Something needs to be clear. Unlike other viral infections like HIV/AIDS, in which case the worst case scenario would be abstinence and few other arrangements, coronavirus is a global threat leaving humanity vulnerable anywhere, anytime challenging our discretion, custom, religion and norms.
Singlehandedly, the best way to ensure our safety is nothing but to proclaim lockdown and stay at home regulation. Sad to say, many of us are still cynical to admit that coronavirus is standing between us and our loved ones, may be because we didn’t so far see the shadow of death in our vicinity. When the government decided to keep the majority of its civil servants at home a fortnight before, the ideas and ideals behind was curtailing movement of people thereby arresting the proliferation of the virus at a rudimentary stage.
The Government is highly cautious of what is coming. Prohibition of any public conclaves including religious rituals by the government is an indication in this regard about the precarious predicament which is obviously imminent. The challenge that is facing us today is beyond the sole capacity of the government. The public should abstain from hoax information, which are mainly channeled in the social media. We need to stand by the national endeavor of arresting the pandemic today. Consolidation of efforts from the private sector, the civic society, religious leaders, senior citizens, and most of all the public at large is highly crucial in a bid to arrest the pandemic.
The good thing is the government has declared a State of Emergency last week. The proposal was presented for House of Peoples’ Representatives; and endorsed. Strict adherence to the state decree is the most important action highly anticipated from the public. On the other hand, any violation would be considered like an attempt to unlock the Pandora’s Box; the act of which will have serious consequences. Let us do everything under our power to stay safe; not to mention the need to pray for our country and the world; the redemption of the almighty God to come ahead of the evil spirit lurking around us.
The Ethiopian Herald April 16/2020
BY ENDALE ASSEFA
