What a year 2020 has been! Honestly, I wanted to start with an excerp of the song: “…so now i’m leaving yesterday behind….” But is it really posible? To just leave yesterday behind? To forget everything that happened and just start with the new norms?
January 2020 started with natural calamities in some parts of the world. Typhoons, floods, and volcanic eruptions are just some. We should also not forget the political problems in some countries that also caused pain, suffering, and hunger for normal citizens. Then COVID.
Of course, I’m sure the radicals that do not seem to believe and do not want to accept that these horrible stories are going around are rolling their eyes, hmmm.
By March 2020, the economy in 5 Continents has partly gone down. Africa, Asia, Americas, Europe and Oceania. Companies closed down together with the lockdown that most governments had to implement in their almost futile effort to try and stop the pandemic spread.
Alas! Too late. But then again, better than not to have acted at all, right?
The lockdown for the whole world came. Country ports were closed, no entrry allowed, except for their own citizens who wanted to be home with their families. International and some local travels were also prohibited. Tourism and Business travels were banned. Each one was encouraged to stay in or stay out. Children stayed at home and had to do homeschooling, digital or per module. Parents had to work from home as well as were forced to teach their own child/children. Front liners who are working in the medical field and homecare for the elderly were overworked. Hospitals and clinics were had to take necessary measures as to avoid the infection chain. Unfortunately, some hospitals even had to deny admittance for lack of hospital beds and amenities. Special COVID-19 infection rooms were set up. Testing centers were designated.
Summer season came and went, and another fear came in. Winter season was coming. Studies found that the virus thrives more in the cold season than in the heat. Illogically, some citizens in the tropical region thought they were at a better position. But of course, they were once again proven wrong. People were still divided. Some believed and followed the new rules. Others went out and complained about losing their freedom and that it was all just political propaganda.
Realization: It seemed like time stopped and all we could hear every day are reports about how bad the pandemic has spread. About how pain, suffering, hunger, and sadness roamed in the whole world. Hundreds of thousands if not millions, lost their jobs, lost their houses, and lost a loved one, a friend, or a colleague because of the virus. The corona super-virus has already spread like a wildfire.
The people suffered and endured, crawled through the hard times until the end of the year. New HOPE came when the news about the invention of the vaccine was announced. Suddenly, it was almost the only thing that everyone was looking forward to. It gave a newfound strength to fight. It made us look forward more eagerly towards the year change with a better more breathable and workable and improved environment.
By December of 2020, the first vaccination against the corona virus started. First off the government of the UK announced that they would start with the vaccination per category before Christmas 2020. Then US followed and few days after Christmas, vaccination in Europe carefully was also implemented. In all the countries, a protocol was followed. Vaccination started in categories. The sick, the front liners, the seniors, and so on… Children were exempted as through the months of studies, it was found out that children have a stronger immune system and did not easily get infected with the virus. Although, in some parts of the world, there were still reports of some minimal cases of covid-19 infection in children.
The new year slowly and quietly crept through…with it the hope of a new healthy world. But then a stronger mutation of the virus was announced. It seemed like Covid-19 did not want to give up its power over the world.
Up until now (as of writing), as per the Johns Hopkins University statistics, global infections have reached almost 85 million. The total deaths hiked up to 1,8 million around the globe. Some countries suffered more but not one was spared. In every continent, the infection was rampant.
On a positive note, I think my new motto for the year 2021 is being more aware of Hygiene, wearing masks, and social distancing. Even with the vaccine and perhaps someday the medication, I hope that the people will still be more observant and proactive in keeping themselves safe and healthy.
Fast forward to 2021, Happy new Year everyone!!!
Stay safe, stay healthy and stay positive. This will all come to end.
Soon, everything will be back to the usual… or we start with the new normal.