#BTEditorial – The virus is the disease, not people

A reader shared with us her experience while shopping on Thursday at a popular outlet around 3 p.m.

To protect her identity let’s call her Ms C.

She says the supermarket was relatively busy, but not overcrowded. She starts her shopping and is busy checking her list when she bumps into another customer who declares: “You idiot. Don’t touch me. I ain’t know if you got the nasty coronavirus. Mind your business and stay from me. I don’t want to dead. I should really spray you with this Lysol here. Them say social distance and you touching me up. I don’t know you.”

Crest-fallen, Ms C is too shocked to respond. She leaves the basket in the aisle and walks out of the store.

In her note to us, Ms C writes: “ I am aware of social distancing at least from what I have read and seen in the media, but never thought it meant disrespect or demeaning anyone.”

We empathize with Ms C at what was clearly an unnecessary and uneducated outburst.

But sadly, too many of us in a state of panic lathered in ignorance and are unwilling to avail themselves of credible facts.

It is critical that we all act responsibly and pay attention to the authorities as Barbados seeks to contain the spread of COVID-19, which has now afflicted six people here.

Social distancing is indeed one of the measures being advocated by medical professionals to reduce infection by the highly contagious coronavirus.

Social distancing – an oxymoron if ever there was one. For how can you be social and be distant at the same time?

But we digress.

Dr Sheena Weekes, a general practitioner, in an interview with Barbados TODAY explained that social distancing is a series of actions to slow down the spread of infectious illness by limiting physical contact.

Dr Weekes advised: “Avoid handshaking, kissing and hugging – those kinds of things.

“We should definitely start practising social distancing now.

Dr Weekes acknowledges that Barbadians, who have long functioned in a friendly, engaging culture where touching is the norm, are in for a major lifestyle change.

But she notes that respectful social distancing works and is key to limiting the spread of the illness.

Therefore social distancing should be taken seriously but respectfully when one considers those most vulnerable to the disease.

For our elderly citizens and those with compromised immune systems or with asthma, heart disease or diabetes, the more we contain the spread of the disease the better.

It is true that the young appear to be less susceptible but they have a duty to be responsible to protect the health of others especially since we are still learning about this respiratory disease.

Moreso, there is no widespread testing nor even a vaccine; we thus have little choice at least for the foreseeable future, no matter however difficult, to ensure our lifestyle changes preserve health and life.

Yet even as we practice social distancing, we certainly have not lost our humanity or manners. Courtesy and kindness are basic values we should all practice.

The fact is COVID-19 is not limited to any group, race, colour, class or country. Hence, while we protect ourselves and in turn safeguard others, we must not allow irrational fears to make us hostile or unfriendly. We have to learn to adapt in a smart way.

Learning this new way of life will take some time no doubt. But friendship and compassion have always been the hallmark of the Barbadian society, May it remain that way long after the contagion passes.