Lockdown Etiquettes - Protection is Better than Panic

July 18, 2020

We are fighting an indefinite enemy. The world is witnessing something that we were not prepared for. However, coronavirus (COVID -19) pandemic had given Indians time to think, ponder and take precautions.

Depending on the vast demography and the other circumstances, there is a widespread of the virus in mainland India, as well as Karnataka and also in Dakshina Kannada District. Hence another week long lockdown is imposed. It’s high time that we understand the real threat and take care. Stay safe and stay at home. Help the government by being receptive.

Lockdown is the only measure that can keep millions safe. Social distancing is the magic mantra. We need to be responsive citizens during this lockdown. How?? Well there are some guidelines that we have followed. I am just reiterating them so that it may help us live a fruitful lockdown period.

L: Live this period with your loved ones. Do not only exist, but live a full life in this time of stress and uncertainty. Be the person in your house who spreads smiles and gives hope. This time is precious and treasurable one to be with your parents, your spouse and your children. Give them that care that you wanted to give all through your life, but did fall short of time due to your hectic work schedule. Do not create an environment that makes everyone dull, but be the person in the house to help bond bonds. If you are alone in your place, pick up the phone and spread joy and hope with a good word or an encouraging message. But please be careful… do not spread rumours.

O: Outdoors a strict no. Do not build courage to say that it is time for me to meet all my health goals and start a day with a walk or drop in at your neighbours place for that yoga session. It is a lockdown and so lock up your aspirations and cravings to be out and get some fresh air. There can be a feeling among few that my house, flat, domicile is in such a remote place and the virus cannot affect me. This is not a wise thought. The only place you are safe is inside your house. Your balconies, verandas, portico and the terrace can be a place to move out, but it is still better to restrict that movement too. If you are in a flat and if everyone comes out for that fresh air, we are not following the etiquettes of lockdown.

C: Connect with your contacts. In this time when family is the support system, not everyone is lucky to have their family around. Hence be that guardian angel and do connect with people in your contact list. There may be a person in your contact list who needs moral courage in these times. Still we advise you not to visit the person, but do bond with them through the mediums of connect. If there is anyone who is occupying more space in your mind and the relation had become from bad to worse, this may be the time to make up that relation. Connect to create optimism for a better tomorrow.

K: Keep Social Distance. This is the action key. Being locked down does not make us independent, but at this time we need to be interdependent. Sure we will sometimes go out of our house for some basic purchases, be it grocery or medicines. You be the person to make people aware that social distancing is needed. Do it with love, concern and assertiveness. In these times, no one will want to listen, but if the cause is right, there will be followers. Do wear the mask, sanitize your hands and follow the rules of social distancing. If you need to speak to your neighbour, which you should do, maintain that healthy gap and help them in times of need. Do not plan for any minor repair works or the repotting of the plants in your garden with the help of a labourer. Stay safe.

D: Do not panic, prevention is the cure. Another important etiquette is not to panic but be proactive. Do list down the essentials needed for you and your family. Try to procure them and please do not hoard beyond need. Maybe the other person has no stock to buy if you hoard. If your loved one is not well, has any sickness, injury or a medical condition that needs attention, do keep the doctors numbers ready and do help one another. Keep your mind calm and be relaxed. A relaxed mind can give timely suggestions and can respond better to situations.

O: Observe yourself and the vicinity. Do observe the changes that are happening and keep yourself updated on the news from reliable sources. If there is something that you observe is not normal, do bring it to the notice of the concerned authorities. There are many gentle souls that have come out to help and ease situations. Be a caretaker to at least one person during this time and see what peace it will create in your life. In the process do observe your moods and always try to be positive and contended.

W: Wellness to be practiced. An old reliable saying, if wealth is lost, nothing is lost, if health is lost, something is lost, and if character is lost, everything is lost. But during coronavirus attack, health is the prime player. We need to protect our health first and build a sound physical and mental health. Do have a routine for yourself and your kids in particular. At the end of the day, a feeling that you have not wasted a day, must be experienced. It can be regular cooking, extra activities of craft, online classes, music, dance, light games, hobbies, cleaning your house, setting the wardrobe, stitching, watering plants, writing, reading… the list can go on. This will help you build that character and it will win you more courage and confidence to unlock the lockdown.

N:Never lose hope. These are testing times and this too shall pass. Have faith in your creator. Many are having a sinking feeling and this will not help you to revive. The world has from the vast past witnessed many ups and downs. You in your life have had challenges bigger than these and you handled them alone. Now during this pandemic, many are with you facing the same challenges. The situation of your neighbour is far worse than yours. So be that hope to the person next to you and help the country revive with your total commitment to say safe and make others safe too.


We shall win the battle against the virus, because no pandemic can win a systemic tactic.

 

 

 

By Dr Preethi Keerthi D’Souza
Dr Preethi Keerthi D’Souza is Assistant Professor at Mangalore University.
To submit your article / poem / short story to Daijiworld, please email it to news@daijiworld.com mentioning 'Article/poem submission for daijiworld' in the subject line. Please note the following:

  • The article / poem / short story should be original and previously unpublished in other websites except in the personal blog of the author. We will cross-check the originality of the article, and if found to be copied from another source in whole or in parts without appropriate acknowledgment, the submission will be rejected.
  • The author of the poem / article / short story should include a brief self-introduction limited to 500 characters and his/her recent picture (optional). Pictures relevant to the article may also be sent (optional), provided they are not bound by copyright. Travelogues should be sent along with relevant pictures not sourced from the Internet. Travelogues without relevant pictures will be rejected.
  • In case of a short story / article, the write-up should be at least one-and-a-half pages in word document in Times New Roman font 12 (or, about 700-800 words). Contributors are requested to keep their write-ups limited to a maximum of four pages. Longer write-ups may be sent in parts to publish in installments. Each installment should be sent within a week of the previous installment. A single poem sent for publication should be at least 3/4th of a page in length. Multiple short poems may be submitted for single publication.
  • All submissions should be in Microsoft Word format or text file. Pictures should not be larger than 1000 pixels in width, and of good resolution. Pictures should be attached separately in the mail and may be numbered if the author wants them to be placed in order.
  • Submission of the article / poem / short story does not automatically entail that it would be published. Daijiworld editors will examine each submission and decide on its acceptance/rejection purely based on merit.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to edit the submission if necessary for grammar and spelling, without compromising on the author's tone and message.
  • Daijiworld reserves the right to reject submissions without prior notice. Mails/calls on the status of the submission will not be entertained. Contributors are requested to be patient.
  • The article / poem / short story should not be targeted directly or indirectly at any individual/group/community. Daijiworld will not assume responsibility for factual errors in the submission.
  • Once accepted, the article / poem / short story will be published as and when we have space. Publication may take up to four weeks from the date of submission of the write-up, depending on the number of submissions we receive. No author will be published twice in succession or twice within a fortnight.
  • Time-bound articles (example, on Mother's Day) should be sent at least a week in advance. Please specify the occasion as well as the date on which you would like it published while sending the write-up.

Comment on this article

  • Preethi Dsouza, Mangaluru

    Tue, Jul 21 2020

    Greetings prinson.. thanks for your words of appreciation. Hope all is fine with you and your family.. take care.. do good... God bless.

    Greetings sir Bhandarkar, the stated corrections are made
    .. thanks a ton.

  • Prinson D'Lima, Udupi/Doha-Qatar

    Sun, Jul 19 2020

    Congratulations Preethi Ma'am for the wonderful article. I was her student in AIBA and her HR class was one of the best where she made even the difficult lessons in Economics, so simple and easy to understand.

    Proud of you Ma'am and looking forward for more of your articles.

  • R.Bhandarkar, Mangaluru...

    Sat, Jul 18 2020

    Protection is 'Netter ' than panic?... Meaning it ' Nets ' more than Panic?
    Or should it be Better than Panic?


Leave a Comment

Title: Lockdown Etiquettes - Protection is Better than Panic



You have 2000 characters left.

Disclaimer:

Please write your correct name and email address. Kindly do not post any personal, abusive, defamatory, infringing, obscene, indecent, discriminatory or unlawful or similar comments. Daijiworld.com will not be responsible for any defamatory message posted under this article.

Please note that sending false messages to insult, defame, intimidate, mislead or deceive people or to intentionally cause public disorder is punishable under law. It is obligatory on Daijiworld to provide the IP address and other details of senders of such comments, to the authority concerned upon request.

Hence, sending offensive comments using daijiworld will be purely at your own risk, and in no way will Daijiworld.com be held responsible.