Day 275 of lockdown

by Surene Esterhuizen

This morning on Day 275 of lockdown, I heard that I was in contact with a person who tested positive for Covid. The reality of the Corona virus struck me [again] as I had to start thinking about who I have been in contact with since Monday, 21 December 2020. I started by making mental notes and quickly realized that a mental note won’t do. I will have to start writing it down.

Today was also the day that I would leave for my well-deserved week away, visiting a little town up the West Coast of South Africa. I soon realized that too won’t happen today as I might put others at risk of getting the virus. Making the responsible choice is not for yourself, but for others around you. What an anti-climax it was to unpack my bags!!

Now back to the reality of the Corona virus. It really upsets me when I read in social media how many people say this is just a normal cold. Or the Corona virus is a hoax. Or we are puppets of our government who just wants to control us with ridiculous rules. [I might re-think this one, because some rules ARE really ridiculous]. But it is not only South Africa in lockdown … countries across the globe are in lockdown. The level all over the world varies continuously!

The reality is that we should be RESPONSIBLE about the Corona virus. If you choose to believe it is a hoax, please go ahead and do just that … if you don’t have contact with other people. BUT if you have contact with others, please be cautious as you don’t know who they are going home to. There might be a sick relative who are a high risk of getting the virus. Do YOU want to be responsible for getting someone else sick?

PLEASE think about it again … it is not a hoax. I know many people who lost someone to Covid. I know many more who was tested positive.

THIS IS A REALITY. It might not be real to you, but it is real to many others who have lost loved ones during the past 275 days!

You only get to react with negative comments if you can give life back to all the people who passed away due to Corona-virus. Can YOU do that?