Don’t Panic During Corona Lockdown

The spread of the deadly novel coronavirus (COVID-19) has now compelled the entire country to follow the lockdown for 3 weeks.

A few people who have tested positive for coronavirus are observed recovering well, and there is no immediate need for Indians to panic about the viral outbreak.  If an individual happens to experience symptoms, such as breathing difficulty, persistent sore throat, dry cough, and body pain, they should consult a doctor or reach out to the nearest hospital facility as soon as possible.

Since all of us have gone into home quarantine to minimize the spread of the virus by becoming a part of break the chain campaign, it is quite natural that some of you may get worried or panic. However, the following can help you in overcoming the self-imposed quarantine.

1. Acceptance of the fact that this is timebound and we’re all in this together can help you calm down. Follow social distancing but do not become emotionally isolated. I would suggest that, if you want to schedule regular calls with friends, who live by themselves, an elderly couple, and your family via Skype, WhatsApp, or voice call, go ahead and do that.
2. Give journaling a try. Try out new cuisine at home. Eat well, stay hydrated, and practice some yoga or breathing exercise. Adequate sleep can also keep you active during the day hours. Create a small activity chart for the day if you can.
3. While we cannot control the outside situation, we can control ourselves by maintaining self-hygiene by washing hands and using a face mask if you need to venture out in case of an emergency. Avoid touching your eyes, mouth, and nose with your hands as much as possible.
4. It is also essential to filter out the amount of information you are getting on the pandemic. One should rely only on reliable sources of information on the pandemic. One needs to identify the information source, which he/she feels reliable. Try to distance yourself from unnecessary social media forwards if you can.
5. If we are at home, we should think that we are safe at home and we are spending more time with our family. Do not think as if you are going to run out of items household essentials or you cannot buy anything new. Think that you have enough at home and learn to use those items wisely. A small step here could help us in our asset management effectively in the future also. Encourage yourself and your family members on recycling or reusing the things with minimum wastage of the essential commodities. If we can see around the most important essential services, such as Medical Facilities, Grocery stores, and other crucial facilities, are still kept open and available to the public.
6. Distant learning facility is available, so think that you are not missing the learning. You can enroll in an academic course to keep yourself occupied.

Maybe the most important aspect is to keep yourself occupied at all times with an activity of your taste and support one and another. We all are together in these testing times and we can together overcome this pandemic.

• Written by Dr. Ashitha A. Associate doctor to Dr. Rajesh Shah