Wednesday, March 25, 2020 www.mauritiustimes.com 8 Pages - ePaper MAURITIUS TIMES Even if you have a terminal disease, you don't have to sit down and mope. Enjoy life and challenge the illness that you have. -- Nelson Mandela COVID-19 An Invisible, Ultramicroscopic Bit of Life Brings the World to Its Knees People clap and clang utensils to show gratitude to the helpers and medical practitioners who are working relentlessly to fight coronavirus in Kolkata on March 22, 2020. Pic - PTI Lessons Corona-ji has forced us to learn By Dr R Neerunjun Gopee l See page 3 Mauritius Times 2 Wednesday, March 25, 2020 www.mauritiustimes.com Edit Page facebook.com/mauritius.times A Message from Bill Gates We All Have What is the Corona/Covid-19 Virus Really Teaching us? 'm a strong believer that there is a A Responsibility spiritual purpose behind everything Ithat happens, whether that is what in the struggle against the Covid-19 pandemic we perceive as being good or being bad. here is a lot of misinformation and l Is it still possible to arrest the spread of As I meditate upon this, I want to disinformation being spread on the pandemic? share with you what I feel the Corona/ social media about Covid-19 ever Covid-19 virus is really doing to us: T l since the first case was detected in Wuhan Will the emergency powers resorted to by governments worldwide really help? 1. It is reminding us that we are all in China. So much so that WHO has coined equal, regardless of our culture, the term ‘infodemic’ for this phenomenon. l Are we sufficiently equipped in religion, occupation, financial Leading researchers have commented that Mauritius to face the worsening situation or how famous we are. as Covid-19 spreads around the world, situation? This disease treats us all equally. ‘spreading just as fast, it seems, are con- If you don't believe me, just ask l What else should we be doing to spiracy theories that claim powerful actors Tom Hanks. mitigate the effects of the pandemic? are plotting something sinister to do with 2. It is reminding us that we are all the virus’ with an apprehension that the l What about the preventive measures connected and something that we are, a virus can bring our ‘medical conspiracy theories… have the doing the round on social media affects one person has an effect world to a standstill. potential to be just as dangerous for so- suggesting daily intake of ginger or Vit on another. It is reminding us that cieties as the outbreak itself.’ C, inhalations, sun-bathing, the false borders that we have put 9. It is reminding us that the power concoctions of lemon juice together up have little value as this virus of freewill is in our hands. We can Besides, there is an overload of infor- with cloves, pepper, etc? Do these does not need a passport. It is choose to cooperate and help mation on Covid-19 coming all kinds of each other, to share, to give, to help or even cure those infected with reminding us, by oppressing us sources and this is apt to confuse and mis- help and to support each other or the virus? for a short time, of those in this lead the people. What is needed now is world whose whole life is spent in we can choose to be selfish, to information from reliable sources that is These are genuine interrogations of oppression. hoard, to look after only our self. Indeed, it is difficulties that bring presented in simple terms for laymen to concern to the people. In a bid to meet 3. It is reminding us of how precious out our true colours. understand what is happening locally and these concerns, and in view of the fact that our health is and how we have globally as far as the spread of the pan- for obvious reasons we cannot come out moved to neglect it through eating 10. It is reminding us that we can be demic is concerned, as well as straightfor- with our weekly print editions until the si- nutrient poor manufactured food patient, or we can panic. We can ward guidelines and tips for them to follow tuation goes back to normal, we will be and drinking water that is either understand that this type of so as to ensure the protection of their coming up with a digital edition as regularly contaminated with chemicals upon situation has happened many health and that of their families. as possible. We will attempt to provide ba- chemicals. If we don't look after times before in history and will lanced news and views on the evolution of our health, we will, of course, get pass, or we can panic and see it At a time when experts themselves are the pandemic for the benefit of our readers, sick. as the end of the world and, con- trying to grapple with the complexities of sequently, cause ourselves more and will also include our regular features: 4. It is reminding us of the shortness the situation and do not have all the harm than good. after all, there are other things also hap- of life and of what is most impor- answers, but are doing their best to find pening in the world, although understand- tant for us to do, which is to help 11. It is reminding us that this can them as soon as possible, what we find is a ably attention is focused on the pandemic. each other, especially those who either be an end or a new begin- plethora of advice about how to cope with ning. This can be a time of reflec- Nevertheless, we feel that it is also impor- are old or sick. Our purpose is not Covid-19 that leaves the average layman tion and understanding, where we tant to keep the mind occupied with other to buy toilet roll. unable to decide which is which. Under- learn from our mistakes, or it can 5. It is reminding us of how mate- positive things and not let ourselves be be the start of a cycle which will standably, there are lots of questions in rialistic our society has become overwhelmed by undue worry and irrational continue until we finally learn the people’s minds, such as, among others: and how, when in times of diffi- fears. lesson we are meant to. l Is the worst yet to come - both at the culty, we remember that it's the We all have a responsibility in the strug- 12. It is reminding us that this Earth is global level and locally? essentials that we need (food, gle against this pandemic, and if we adopt water, medicine) as opposed to sick. It is reminding us that we l How long will the crisis last? a sound and rational approach there is no the luxuries that we sometimes need to look at the rate of defor- reason why we will not come out of it in due unnecessarily give value to. estation just as urgently as we l What will be the cost in terms of human look at the speed at which toilet course. 6. It is reminding us of how important lives? rolls are disappearing off of our family and home life is and shelves. We are sick because our how much we have neglected home is sick. this. It is forcing us back into our Mauritius Times houses so we can rebuild them 13. It is reminding us that after every Founder/Editor: Beekrumsing Ramlallah - Aug 1954-Sept 2000 into our home and to strengthen difficulty, there is always ease. Life is cyclical, and this is just a Editor-in-chief: M. Ramlallah our family unit. phase in this great cycle. We do Senior Editor: Dr RN Gopee 7. It is reminding us that our true not need to panic; this too shall work is not our job, that is what This epaper has been produced with the assistance of pass. we do, not what we were created Doojesh Ramlallah, Sultana Kurmally and Kersley Ramsamy to do. Our true work is to look 14. Whereas many see the Corona/ after each other, to protect each Covid-19 virus as a great disaster, Pearl House 4th Floor Room 406 other and to be of benefit to one I prefer to see it as a 'great Sir Virgil Naz Street, Port Louis another. corrector'. Tel: 5-29 29301 Tel/Fax: 212 1313 8. It is reminding us to keep our It is sent to remind us of the impor- Email: [email protected] egos in check. It is reminding us tant lessons that we seem to have for- Website: www.mauritiustimes.com that no matter how great we think gotten and it is up to us if we will learn facebook.com/mauritius.times we are or how great others think them or not. Op-Ed Mauritius Times Wednesday, March 25, 2020 3 Lessons Corona-ji has forced us to learn n Hindu tradi- tion adding the Isuffix ‘ji’ to a person’s name is to show great respect to the person. The reasons can be many: the person is powerful, learned, is engaged selfless- ly in a great huma- nitarian cause, and Dr R. Neerunjun Gopee so on. Covid-19 or the Coronavirus, an invisible, ultramicroscopic bit of life is so powerful that it has brought the world to its knees. Hence Corona-ji. It has led to many countries going into lockdown, sanitary curfew or couvre-feu sanitaire as we have called it here.