- These are the things that you may remember someday about the lockdown.
- Today is Sunday, 3rd May, 2020.
- We are at Day 40 of social isolation.
- Anybody who is alive today has never seen anything of this scale ever in their lives.
- Almost all big organisations have a Business Continuity Plan but none would have planned for a disruption of this scale
- Schools, Colleges, Offices, Markets, Industries, Malls, Restaurants, Cinema halls are all closed
- Flights, Trains, Buses, Uber, Ola are not operating
- In many towns and cities all delivery services like Swiggy, Zomato, Big Basket are not permitted for fear of spreading the infection
- All maids, drivers and house-help are not allowed into the homes or apartments
- Only shops of essential items like groceries, medicine, vegetables etc are allowed to open for limited duration everyday.
- All places of worship like Temples, Churches, Mosques are closed
- Parks, beaches and other public places are not accessible to the public.
- All sports events like Olympics, IPL etc have been cancelled or Postponed across the Globe
- All religious and social gatherings have been banned.
- Funerals related gatherings are limited to immediate cohabitants and max 15-20 persons and too with Police permission
- Schools have been closed since mid March and most schools have started online classes on Zoom.
- There are floor markings outside and inside the stores to maintain appropriate distance between people.
- Only limited number of people are allowed to enter a shop and the rest have to form a queue outside. When one customer exists then one from the queue is allowed to enter the shop
- Friendly social gatherings even with neighbours or friends are not happening. Most sane folks are maintaining discipline and social hygiene.
- People are scheduling video calls to connect with friends and relatives
- There is widespread fake news on social media
- World-over there is shortage of masks, gloves, PPE kits and medical equipment like test kits, ventilators etc and most countries are having to buy it from China which miraculously has overcome this crisis and is back to business
- People are wearing masks, most places now REQUIRE that you wear them to enter! People are even making their own masks for sale or donation to medical facilities!
- Toilet paper, hand sanitizer, anti-bacterial wipes and anything Lysol or Clorox is in short supply and limited per person.
- Every city has been divided into tiny zones & an instant fine is being issued for crossing the zone without a valid reason. (Transport workers, Essential services, etc)
- IT companies have adopted a work-from-home approach and are able to run most of their operations remotely
- Small businesses and daily wagers are hard hit. Government is trying to provide food and assistance to the daily wagers, poor and needy folks
- Amidst all this the silver lining is that the pollution levels have come down drastically and nature is thriving.
- There is hardly any noise pollution and we can hear the birds chirping again.
- I have heard in news that the long standing Ozone layer holes have self healed
- At least everyone is acknowledging that probably we humans had taken too many things for granted and the pace of life was accelerating with every passing day but now this pandemic has put brakes on that mad race and everything has come to a standstill forcing people to reflect on they actions and their consequences
- Today the Lockdown 2.0 comes to completion and Lockdown 3.0 begins for next 2 weeks.
- I am not sure what the future holds for us and how the “new normal” will evolve as we try to adapt to the changed circumstances and environment. However I hope people will remember at least a few lessons from this worldwide pandemic and will adopt a more responsible and deliberate lifestyle.
- Remember life is precious & that nothing should be taken for granted. And above all let’s be grateful for where we are and what we have.
- Stay safe and healthy…!
