THE COST OF COVID-19_By Nnamdi Ezelum
Many thanks to our Health Workers-men and women who have devoted their lives to the task of fighting side by side with other “Soldiers” in arms.
The truth is that no truth is forever.There are things inexorably true, so true, so factual that they can be incontrovertibly almost true.
One of the more obvious truth is that we are at war with a virus,who by spreading deaths and terror is jeering loudly at its own victory.
We do not need to be debriefed that pandemics are deadlier than wars.President Donald Trump was right to compare the virus outbreak to a sneak attack by Japan on December 7, 1941, and Al Qaeda on September 11,2011.And just like in real wartime,our Generals,the world leaders have begun doing what past Commanders have done when war goes badly:Declare victory and go home.This they are doing by resorting to unchecked relaxing of Lockdowns .Yes,we want to be free,but flirting with tragedy in the name of freedom means freedom to die!
As it happens,cases are growing,not receding.The index case’s estimate in Nigeria have more than doubled from what it was a month ago.
There is a big problem here:many of us have not yet imbibed the discipline of social distancing.Some of our security agents manning our borders are working at cross purpose with the government by collecting bribes and allowing movement from point A to B. A bigger problem is ignorance and denial:up until now,very many of us still do not agree that Covid-19 is real,and this mindset could very well expose the rest of us to the risk of flirting with tragedy very soon.God forbid!
Danger! Danger!! Danger!!!
I have checked-for instance in my native town of Obollo-Afor-that by ratio of five to one,many are more concerned about lifting restriction quickly than too slowly.Of course,I know that the cost of lockdowns have also grown too high with increasing business collapse and hardships which makes it even more difficult to keep the masses at home.But you see,if I have the will of my own,I would still suggest that the lockdown continues.
I am not heartless and I do not wish to appear ruthless,but if you must fault my position,let’s together ask one profound question:How much is a human life worth? Now let’s answer in unison:There is a cost of staying at home,no doubt personal cost.But there’s also a cost of not staying at home-maybe death.Either option has a cost.You’re free to choose one.
Nnamdi Ezelum,
New Delhi,India.
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