There is no magic formula that makes problems vanish. Certainly not for those brought about by a small, shapeless element of nature globally known as the Novel Coronavirus.
Little did we know that life was about to throw us a curve that would bring about extreme suffering and death all over the world. Our worst nightmare happened and before we could do anything else, we had to work hard to flatten that curve because our very existence depended upon it.
The Coronavirus brought the entire planet to a standstill, temporarily cutting it loose from the destructive clutches of the human race. For while we were exiled in our homes, the world started a self-healing process. The air became cleaner, the sea clearer, and Mother Nature breathed a huge sigh of relief. In the biblical account of Creation, it is written: And God looked upon all that He had made, and indeed, it was very good. (Genesis 1.31). And then we, the men and women created earlier in the narrative, had to go and spoil it all!
The extraordinary number of human lives lost to this deadly disease should have, by now, put paid to our arrogant delusion of omnipotence. No military power or technology could save us. Neither the elderly, nor the thousands of healthcare professionals and clergymen and women. Like the ten green bottles in the children’s nursery rhyme, people fell to the disease, one after the other at an alarming rate. Except that way more than ten fell and we are still counting.
We may even be forgiven for thinking that the Coronavirus is the punishment we deserved. It is a formidable enemy that knows no borders. It broke down all barriers and does not distinguish between race and religion, wealth and poverty, social status and power, reds and blues. The world is frightened because nobody is immune to this deadly virus and all nations should be looking past their differences, seeking to repair their eroded global solidarity and collaborating to defeat this common enemy that brought the global economy to its knees.
But crisis moments also present opportunity. Now is the time for world leaders to acknowledge their dismal performance when dealing with the negative human impact on the natural world. An impact that provoked an ecological destruction which had already reached a crisis point long before the virus appeared from nowhere. It is the time for world leaders to seriously put their heads together in a global effort to save our planet from the ravages of climate change.
In the meantime, we must learn to live with the virus. Especially now that many countries, including ours, are contemplating on how to ease lockdown measures and moving into the so-called second phase without the protection of the elusive antidote. The importance of maintaining social distancing during this phase cannot be overstated. People already fear being touched, even by themselves. And while we have learnt to keep a safe distance from all the persons we know, handshakes and hugs are sadly becoming a thing of the past.
We are told that we can now go out to do some high-street shopping, but only if we follow a list of safety restrictions that include wearing a face mask at all times and a reminder that changing rooms cannot be used. Gathering in groups of four is also allowed and ferry crossings from Malta to Gozo and back resume for a limited number of passengers while some of the public medical services will also be available.
It is a sense of liberation for those people who have been in isolation for several weeks, and a huge relief for workers with almost empty pockets. Others will argue that it is too soon to ease lockdown measures. They fear an increase in infections that will take us straight back to the first phase. The danger is far from over, but the Maltese economy can no longer afford that those who cannot work from home continue to remain idle. During the first phase many of us were not infected, but we are still vulnerable, so keeping a safe distance from each other still makes lots of sense. We may be carriers or worse still, we may become ill ourselves.
Indeed, social distancing will play a huge part in keeping the reproduction rate of the virus from rising to dangerous levels during the second phase. Inevitably, all the schools, places of worship and wedding halls will remain shut. Just like the cinemas and theatres. The ideal would be to have someone set up a drive-in theatre. And as Summer draws near, we cannot but wonder how possible it will be to group sunbeds and chairs under an umbrella on our overcrowded public beaches, yet at the same time keep the recommended safe distance of two metres.
Meanwhile, online communication is the new normal for those workers who have settled down into the routine of working remotely. The coronavirus has taught us that there is no longer a good reason to do this in person. The workdays are filled with video business meetings, webinars and social video chats to catch up with family members during break time. Nobody gathers around a table to discuss important issues anymore. Even high-level administrative meetings are being held via live videoconferences with multiple participants from different locations.
The Coronavirus has also taught us that expertise matters. The glaring errors made by US President Trump and UK Prime Minister Johnson to trivialise the Pandemic has cost both administrations dearly with regard to loss of life. Now it turns out that Brazilian President Bolsonaro began keeping company with both. In Malta, Prime Minister Abela was also criticised at the outset for playing down the strict advice given by Health Superintendent Charmaine Gauci, but from the way it panned out, one can safely conclude that her expert advice was followed religiously by almost everyone.
Returning to the way of life before the Coronavirus outbreak is the recession that we should all fear. Who in their right mind would want to turn the clock back to the days of lengthy traffic jams and alarming air pollution levels causing chronic disease. To the persistent and annoying noise pollution, construction sites being the worst offenders. To cutting down trees with a consuming passion as if there was no tomorrow.
Well, tomorrow is already here. So, it would be a good start for our members of parliament to get busy drafting new legislation that is necessary to cover the actual problems we have long been dealing with when it comes to green issues. Perhaps by then, the day we are all waiting for would have arrived along with the announcement that researchers have finally developed a vaccine that will effectively wipe out the coronavirus and make it available for everyone. Then it will truly be a red-letter day to an exceptionally large degree.