Nationwide Lockdown eases; but what now? | Nepal

Nationwide Lockdown eases; but what now? | Nepal

Nationwide Lockdown eases in Nepal while the COVID-19 cases are on the rise! What should we do to prepare ourselves from this ongoing pandemic?

Nepal Government announced on June 15, 2020, that Nepal will finally start to ease on the lockdown enforced because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Covid-19 which threw the whole world into chaos has had severe implications in Nepal as well. From peoples’ economic perspective to the finance of the whole country, COVID-19 really threw people into a frenzy. However, after the announcement by the Nepal Government, people have started to ease their minds a little. By no means does this mean that the threat is over. Actually, the opposite is the truth. After the ease on nationwide lockdown, the cases have increased in a rate never seen before in Nepal and it doesn’t look like it will decline anytime soon.

Countries all over the world have implied their own rules and regulations to protect their citizens from the danger of the virus. Nepal too has issued its own rules for the citizens to follow to prepare themselves from the contagion. However, there are some people who’re still not taking this pandemic seriously and wander without any safety measures; putting everyone else at risk as well. So, at a time like this, we need to make sure that we are safe and distance ourselves from those who do not take any cautions. Meanwhile, have a look at these tips that we can follow to minimize the risk of infection.

Always wear masks and gloves while going outside

 

The most common way that the Corona Virus spreads has been through bodily fluids/droplets. So, in order to protect ourselves from danger, we should always wear a mask and gloves while commuting anywhere.

Always maintain social distancing

Ease of lockdown doesn’t mean that the risk of COVID-19 has subsided. The risk is still there, only higher and it can affect people still. So, it is our responsibility to know what we must do to protect ourselves. According to NHS UK, the appropriate distance a person should maintain is at least 2 meters. This also means that we should not visit public spaces like malls, gym, swimming pools, restaurants, etc. unless absolutely necessary.

Always carry a sanitizer with you

Maintaining hygiene is the key to fight against any disease and Covid-19 isn’t any different. It has been established by the World Health Organization (WHO) that, alcohol-based sanitizers can kill the virus that is on our body. So, don’t forget to carry one with you at all times.

Always wash hands and body after coming from somewhere

Again, hygiene is very important. As soon as we come back from anywhere, be it grocery shopping, our jobs, or anywhere else, our first priority should be to wash our hands or if possible, take a shower.

Follow self-quarantine even if the lockdown eases

Let’s be honest, the vaccine for Covid-19 hasn’t been found yet. So, even if the nationwide lockdown eases, it doesn’t at all mean that we are safe from the danger of the virus. So, it is upon ourselves how we handle the risk. Nothing is important to an individual as their health. So, if possible, follow the lockdown even though it isn’t mandatory. The government stopped imposing the lockdown because surviving without a job was proving difficult for working-class people in our country. So, it doesn’t mean that we can have gatherings and go partying. Thus, it is upon ourselves to self-isolate unless absolutely necessary. Check out some of the fun indoor activities you can do.

Take care of mental well being

There is a popular misconception in our country that being healthy only refers to our physical wellbeing. However, our mental wellbeing is one of the most, if not the most important, aspect of our health. There is a sad statistic released by Nepal which states that over 1200 people have committed suicide during the 74 days’ lockdown. We, humans, are social animals and we need to have interactions with other humans to ease our minds. Add financial burden because of the implied lockdown, our mental health takes a turn for worse. In the end, people take the unfortunate decision to take their own lives. So, we have to take care of our mental health as much as we do for our physical health. We can engage in various activities to keep our minds fresh and calm. Reading books, watching movies, bonding with family members, social media, etc. are there to keep our mind diverted. Doing yoga and in-house exercises can also relieve stress. So, keep your mind busy.

Conclusion

However, in an endnote, nobody could have foreseen what has been happening and nobody was prepared for such pandemic. So, it is upon ourselves to overcome this hurdle too. Let’s not be complacent just because the nationwide lockdown was eased upon by the Government. We should still be vigilant and not risk ourselves by doing unnecessary things.

Let us all defeat Covid-19 once and for all. Till then I hope everyone will remain safe.