Day Twenty
To lift the lockdown or not is a Scylla vs Charybdis decision. If the virus spares the poor, hunger will get them. Maharashtra has extended the lockdown by 2 more weeks to 30th April. Many other states have done the same. But there is no country-wide decision yet. We have the wherewithal to distribute rations to the poor, but not to handle the deluge of sick. Mumbai has just 109 ICU beds for a population of 25 million.
Yesterday USA became the first country with more than 2000 fatalities in a single day. USA also surpassed Italy to become the country with the most number of casualties. Sad to see the most advanced country brought to the knees. Notwithstanding this, some pastors are planning to open their churches for Easter tomorrow. Thomas called me yesterday. He watched the Good Friday mass on his phone livestreamed from churches in Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai.
CNN had an instant survey on whether the coronavirus will lead to demise of the handshake.The verdict was equally split. I am actually shocked. Language is very powerful. And "Social Distancing" was a horrendous choice for maintaining physical separation. For hundreds of thousands of years, human beings have been conditioned to come together in the face of a crisis. The virus is challenging this conditioning. How can we fight this crisis, when we are required to stay apart?
The vegetable seller adjacent to the building gate had a low profile with very few customers. But that has changed. He has risen in stature and clout. He now speaks authoritatively and also makes a fast buck.
Priya from upstairs wanted my phone number for a WA group of our building residents for emergency notification during the lockdown.
Meanwhile I offered distance education to the class to complete rest of the syllabus. Hope the students accept my offer.
CNN had an instant survey on whether the coronavirus will lead to demise of the handshake.The verdict was equally split. I am actually shocked. Language is very powerful. And "Social Distancing" was a horrendous choice for maintaining physical separation. For hundreds of thousands of years, human beings have been conditioned to come together in the face of a crisis. The virus is challenging this conditioning. How can we fight this crisis, when we are required to stay apart?
The vegetable seller adjacent to the building gate had a low profile with very few customers. But that has changed. He has risen in stature and clout. He now speaks authoritatively and also makes a fast buck.
Priya from upstairs wanted my phone number for a WA group of our building residents for emergency notification during the lockdown.
Meanwhile I offered distance education to the class to complete rest of the syllabus. Hope the students accept my offer.
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