Letter: It’s not ‘if’, it’s ‘when’

Olivia Roels-Sak of Salt Rock writes:

There is still a huge misconception about the coronavirus. From my side I think I ticked all the boxes of this traumatic situation:

• First, I joked about it (I still do, as laughter is our best medicine).

• Then I took it seriously and believed all the stories that were written in the press.

• I panicked and took some tranquillizers.

• I relaxed, and I checked my wine cellar.

• After that, I started investigating and comparing numbers and doing more research.

Since lockdown, I’ve been ‘face-timing’ with lots of relatives/friends and family. It strikes me that many of the people do not understand the reason for the lockdown.

I was reading an article by a reputable Belgian journalist, writing for a national newspaper, titled: “The question is not ‘if’ you will get the virus, the question is ‘when’ you will get the virus”.

Most people do not understand that they are likely to get the virus, but they won’t even notice.

Wim’s daughter went to the doctor in Belgium with the whole family, as they all had the symptoms, and the diagnosis was that they ‘probably had the virus, but only mild symptoms’.

This morning, I read an article on CNN that China (which is now going to reach a second peak) is changing strategy and they are considering quarantining the elderly.

This makes perfect sense to me.

Elderly and low-immune people are the target of corona.

The reason for the lockdown is simply to avoid overloading hospitals and buy time to come up with medication/vaccines.

I am against the lockdown, especially in a country like South Africa.

In many other countries, people can still walk in the streets or on the beach. Social distancing is the one and only rule.

The Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said: ‘When the lockdown finishes, I am already asking the schools and businesses to make a plan and incorporate social distancing in your models.’

Again, this makes perfect sense.

The point is to avoid close contact.

Businesses could still function, but under different circumstances.

So basically, a nail bar, instead of five chairs, could still have two chairs.

A class with 20 kids should be reduced to 10.

I know this doesn’t sound easy, but in any case, it is better than our lockdown.

To conclude, 4.2 million people die per month on our beautiful planet earth (I Googled this figure, hoping it’s correct).

Let us all look at the bigger picture and ask ourselves the question if the Corona virus numbers are worth destroying the economy and the hopes of millions of people.

• Yes, work from home if you can.

• Yes, let’s try to walk instead of driving the car.

• Yes, let us try to reorganise our lives.

• But please don’t lock us down. It is going to kill us, from hunger, depression, anxiety, loneliness, and of hopelessness.

I might be wrong, and the least intention of my letter is to disturb people (although it is inevitable to disturb people in this crisis period if you are opinionated).

We are all in the same fight.

And let’s beg our president to make this fight easier.

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