In This Post:
Effects of the Coronavirus in Pakistan
Tips to Stay Calm During a Global Pandemic
The steady rise in the cases of Coronavirus in Pakistan and the rest of the world has a far-reaching effect on the way we live, interact, travel, work, and complete our routine tasks. Some of us are juggling between keeping children busy and completing work-assignments at home, some are missing their socially active life, while others are panic-buying groceries and medicines fearing the worst. In this blog, we will discuss the many effects of the Coronavirus in Pakistan on our daily life, along with a few useful tips to stay calm during a global pandemic.
Let’s begin!
Effects of the Coronavirus in Pakistan – at Work and Home
It is no secret that the current outbreak of the virus has had a terrible impact on the way we live, communicate, travel, socialise, and work, not just in Pakistan but across the world. People are being quarantined, cities are under lockdown, and borders are being temporarily closed.
That said, here are some of the most common aspects of our lives that are being disrupted as the virus continues to spread:
- Being Mindful
- Saying no to Gyms
- Goodbye Handshakes
- Social Gathering – a Crime
- More Self-Time and Family Time
- Working from Home
Being Mindful
Besides adopting healthy habits, the other thing the recent global epidemic has taught us is to be mindful in public spaces. We all know for a fact that bus stops, roads, shops, restaurants, parks, and other public spaces are a hotbed of germs. And people are majorly avoiding public transports, some have even cancelled the trips they were really looking forward to. Watching people in face masks and surgical gloves is becoming a common sight across the country.
While life’s significant functions are put on hold across the globe, satellite data collected from Copernicus Sentinel-5P has revealed that Italy’s air pollution from nitrogen dioxide has decreased drastically due to the recent lockdown. This makes us wonder whether Earth is trying to do what humans should have done a long ago — reduce their carbon footprints!
Saying no to Gyms
Going for gym classes at the beginning of the day might have been a regular ritual for many, but the recent lockdown across Pakistan due to Coronavirus has changed that. Several sports facilities, public parks, jogging tracks, and gyms have been shut down to reinforce the criticality of the situation.
Now, it totally depends if it makes you applause in joy or cry in sadness based on how much you enjoyed your work-out sessions.
Goodbye Handshakes
According to medical experts, the current global epidemic requires a physical surface for the virus to transmit from one person to another. As soon as this news hit the screens, the world bade farewell to handshakes and hugs, and people found alternative ways to greet each other.
On the other hand, in a country like Pakistan, where physical greeting is taken as a sign of respect, hospitality, and warmth – it was a little challenging to say no to physical contact. Despite all that, people are beginning to avoid such greetings, and you would usually spot some using their elbows to greet people, while others use virtual high-fives. No physical greeting has become a new norm across the country.
Similarly, a lot of us didn’t realise how much we touch our faces until health officials advised people to avoid it. Besides, restaurants and public spaces have been closed, and people are being extra cautious in their contact with high-risk objects like doorknobs, handrails, elevators, etc.
More Self-time and Family Time
To slow down the spread of the recent global epidemic, social gatherings have been banned in Pakistan, which could mean that you will get to spend a little more time doing things you love, including being close to your family. And, a lot of people are heading to search engines to make the most of their time with their families at home.
It might be one of the most favourable outcomes of Coronavirus in our daily lives. People are spending more time with their families, cooking their favourite food, adopting a healthier routine, listening to music, and streaming the latest flicks, all the while making sure their loved ones are safe.
Social Gatherings are a Crime
Social gatherings, formal or informal, have been completely banned all over the country. In some provinces, social gatherings of four or more people have already become a serious crime. The police have been asked to implement these rules to prevent the virus from spreading further.
Commenting on the situation, IG Sindh Mushtaq Ahmed Mahar said that police have received explicit instructions to ensure that four or more people do not travel or gather outside without any valid reasons. He further added that if any citizen fails to satisfy police on why they are going as a group, they will face strict consequences, and legal actions will be taken against them.
Working from Home
One of the most significant changes in routine life across Pakistan is people working from home. As the Covid-19 virus shows no signs of slowing down, several corporations have granted work-from-home to their employees. On the other hand, many other countries are also planning for a similar scenario. If you are also working remotely, make sure you’re maintaining a healthy work-life balance.
Meanwhile, schools and several other educational institutions are the first to feel the effects as students across the country have been either granted extended vacations or practising long-distance learning via social media platforms.
On a side note, if you are still wondering if working from home is ideal for you or not, check out our recent post on the pros and cons of working from home.
Tips to Stay Calm During a Global Pandemic
The current global epidemic has impacted different people differently. While some of us are extremely good at keeping everything together, some of us can’t control our anxiety and fear, and it is completely normal if you act either way. Here are a few useful tips to stay calm during a global pandemic:
- You are in the supermarket shopping for the lockdown. Logically, we all know that yearly food supplies are not needed for now, but as soon as we see others piling their carts – their anxiety infects us, and we start panic-buying. With the help of our Coronavirus grocery list, you can easily sort out how to stock up your pantry strategically.
- In one of our previous posts, we shared a detailed brief on how to make your own hand sanitiser at home. So, don’t panic if you reach the toiletries section only to find out that the mart has run out of sanitisers.
- Stay focused and show gratitude towards those who are leaving their home and doing what they can do to fight the outbreak. Use “thank you” often, we all need to hear kind words, especially in this situation.
- Keep humanity above everything else and show compassion. It is quite normal to cast blame on others when we’re fearful. Be careful of the words you use for others.
- Act responsibly, don’t break the law, and try to stay indoors as much as you can.
- Indulge with your family members and give yourself some time to ponder.
- Volunteer if you can. A lot of people need your help in this global crisis.
This was our take on the effects of the Coronavirus in Pakistan on our daily lives at work and home. Tell us how it has affected you at blog@zameen.com.
Before we sign-off, we would like to reiterate that during a global epidemic, we are all required to act responsibly by adopting habits that can prevent this virus from spreading further. That being said, we also have compiled a list of things that can assist you in acting more responsibly during the Coronavirus outbreak. Make sure you share this piece with your friends!
Keep visiting Zameen Blog to learn more about dealing with the Coronavirus in Pakistan. For more updates, keep following us on Facebook.
