MAMMA
As we would keep on reading about the increasing number of Covid cases and deaths, we would not dwell on it indefinitely. Past the shock of the deaths of so many young people, we would go about our business, until it hit us square in the face.
That night, the two mighty red lines almost glowed from the white bar, confirming our fears. Our girl had contracted Covid-19. Her morning fainting, her fever when she woke up from her out-of-character nap and her red eyes should have been evident tell-tale signs, but the mind has a habit of blocking what we fear the most until we are directly confronted with it. She was immediately whisked to her room and her siblings were strictly instructed not to make fun of her since minutes before they darted to the other end of the kitchen as soon as they saw the aforenamed red lines.
My mind was in turmoil, I was, for lack of a proper English word that can properly translate my state of mind, abriti. I could not focus on what to do, pacing here and there, thinking of the worst-case scenario, for this was now something that we were to experience, no longer only happening to others. I tossed and turned during the night, mentally making a list of things to be done. The next day, authorities were informed accordingly. Schools were understanding and made our lives easier. However, this did not alleviate the worry.
We were rolled months backwards, for we were living in lockdown situation once more. We communicated with family and friends via video calls and tried to work out a temporary routine so that the kids who were stuck at home had some form of order in their day. We set up a small station outside Little Miss’ room, limiting the things that we would touch that would go in and out of her room. To her credit, she was very resilient, never once whining. She had books, her phone and laptop to keep her busy but she also learned valuable lessons (see those in her own words). We are however, among the fortunate ones. The kids have the good fortune of having their own rooms and having more than one bathroom makes situations like this liveable. But such is not the case for every family.
If this pandemic has brought forward anything, it is a questioning of the way we live our lives and the things we take for granted: health, space, food, work, the disparity between private and public health service, among so many others. It also brings forward the question of privilege, especially in the context of self-isolation. In effect, contrary to the pandemic situation, isolation period means one is left to fend for oneself and family, with a minimum support from authorities. Privilege in isolation period means access to sufficient space in the home to ensure a minimum risk of infection among family members, the ability to work from home in the event of a child getting infected, the means to access private medical support following the (in)effectiveness of public authorities, access to devices for kids to entertain themselves when they are isolating, access to school materials online, especially from private schools. Many of us might take the above for granted, but it is high time we realised that such is not the case across the board. This situation exacerbates the already growing gap between social classes, which gives rise to numerous societal problems, perpetuating inequalities with long-lasting consequences. And as accounts from the families of fatally infected patients keep pouring in, coupled with an almost admission of guilt from some authorities, it is abundantly clear that they are in over their heads and the consequences are being borne by innocent people, with ripple effects.
This is the occasion and the opportunity for policy makers to show their mettle, firstly in the acceptance that the way of doing things is rapidly changing, maybe at a pace with which they can no longer keep up. Therefore, a collaboration with people who can and do is mandatory. It doesn’t take expertise from foreigners only to come up with solutions. We already have the brains in the diaspora as well as locally, ready and asking to be tapped into. It only takes initiative and a good slice of humble pie to make such a move. Instead, we are frustratingly stuck with people who cannot see further than their noses and who are carrying on with bygone practices and yet claiming to be part of the new age.
As uncertain times keep looming and the end of year festivities starting, we must not compromise on taking the necessary precautions, and act responsibly. We should always remain on alert and be ready to sensibly help others who are not as fortunate as ourselves. We need to realise that no matter how thick or high our walls may be, they are not impenetrable and do not offer us protection against the tsunami that Covid-19 represents.
‘Family members are worried sick’ (By Little Miss)
Being stuck in a room twenty-four hours a day can be boring. You have nothing to do. When you think of being in isolation, it sounds easy. Just having to stay in your room. At first, you find something to entertain yourself, but after a few days it becomes boring. As soon as you get an idea of doing something you just do it since you have nothing to do. Sometimes you can just lay in bed and fall asleep instantly, other times you just can’t sleep.
There are some good sides to be in isolation. For example: your siblings cannot annoy you, you can wake up late, you can go to sleep late. But there are also some disadvantages. You can only get out of your room to use the bathroom, you cannot meet up with friends. I ask myself how others who do not have books or devices entertain themselves. How do they find something to do?
Another disadvantage is going back to school and not knowing if you will be made fun of for having contracted the virus or getting pity from everyone. There are people who feel guilty if their friends get Covid and it is not even their fault.
Having the virus also means that family members are worried sick. They call everyday checking up on you and sending their prayers. Friends are also worried, but they always do something to get it off your mind. The worst thing of being in isolation is feeling sick while being stuck in a room alone. I hope that kids who are in isolation and with parents who are working feel better soon for it is not as easy a time as one imagines.
