Social or Emotion Distancing?

Across the globe, social distancing is practiced through implementing lock-downs or imposing curfews to curb the transmission of Coronavirus by the governments. Social distancing is nothing but to maintain distance between people who may have symptoms of COVID-19 of at least 1m (3-4feet) and preferably staying at home. Maintaining distance in this dreadful situation is necessary but being less of emotions or getting detach out of fear is one of the scenarios witnessed by some. There are some of the cases which show less empathy towards each other. It must have been arisen because of the fear to catch coronavirus but at the same time, nobody should forget that everyone is dealing with it equally.  

In the case of Padma Shri awarded Sikh Spiritual Singer Nirmal Singh Khalsa at the Golden Temple passed away due to coronavirus infection. The incident came into light when the local residents of his hometown surrounded the cremation ground and refused to move not allowing to do the last rites. At last, the funeral was done in a secluded place at a short distance from cremation ground at 8:30 pm. All this chaos happened over the fear of the spread of the virus by cremating the body. But this is not true, as per the guidelines there is no such evidence that the virus can spread by the ash or smoke produced by cremating the body of the infected person. One more similar incident happened in the Ludhiana district of Punjab where the family refused to accept the dead body of the patient over the fear of catching the virus. Even the authorities ensured the son of the deceased women to provide him with protective gear and assured him that it would shield him against the virus still he denied performing the cremation. When nobody came forward to claim the body, the district administration took the charge and cremated the body late midnight where the family members watched it from the distance of 100metres. 

But this isn’t it, another case in Rajasthan where a pregnant woman had to deliver her child in the ambulance and lost her child just because doctors refused to treat the woman being Muslim. No doubt fear is surfaced among people especially for those who have attended the Tablighi Jamaat at Nizamuddin in Delhi but putting the lives of innocent ones in danger isn’t right anyway. These are the common people who have faced such an emotional step back but the doctors and the nurses who are at the front line dealing with the patients, trying their best possible to identify and treat people are not exceptions. They are also facing discrimination by their landlords or localities and even their families are suffering too. Medical staff, police officers who are dealing with the patients of coronavirus are facing hatred like for what? Treating people? Or because it is their job only to handle this critical situation. They are too just normal human beings who are under much danger than the people sitting in their houses but still, they are doing their duty to save people working day and night. 

No doubt, there are several people who are helping those are in need but again there is another side to it which surely raises a question on the emotional well-being of humans. Will this fear over the minds of people prevail even after things get back to normal? Or is this detachment going to last long? People need to be more aware of the facts and guidelines provided by the government to deal with the patients or the deceased ones due to coronavirus and should appreciate those who are putting their lives in danger for us. Whether it is Corona or not nobody should lose humanity and shouldn't disrespect or harass the ones who are dealing with this deadly virus otherwise we may not be able to get back to normal ever. Love among humans may get lost in the fear and it may lead to some disastrous disconnection amongst human beings. It's time to unite and fight against the virus by staying at home and helping the needy. 

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