INSA-SERB Essay Competition

Category: IV. Open category

Topic: Our Lives & the Sciences: During and After the Pandemic.

“We can all play a part in spreading accurate facts and science, countering the
misinformation that puts lives at risk”.

Abstract:

Our lives, along with hundreds of millions of other people across the world, have
been turned upside down by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Thankfully, the great majority of us appreciate our personal and public duty to
reduce the chance of infection.

However, as we face weeks of disruption ahead, we will all have questions and
experience waves of frustration and disbelief. Understanding the dissonance at a
personal, family, and community level can, I believe, help us to reduce stress and
maintain a positive outlook.

Science has been central to informing policy in the response to pandemic like
COVID-19.

COVID-19 has devastated communities and economies around the world and
profoundly changed the ways in which we live and work.

Many of those effects will no doubt prove to be temporary, but the pandemic has
also created opportunities for us to “build back better” once the immediate threat
recedes.

While medical science has been front and centre of the response to the virus itself,
social scientists have a powerful role to play in our recovery from it.

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Introduction:

There is a renewed focus on resuming life as it was before the outbreak of

Pandemic [COVID-19]. However, it is important to remember the importance of
mental wellness, especially in a post-pandemic world.

One event dominated in 2020:

A deadly and previously unknown virus wreaked havoc across the globe, killing
more than 1.5 million people, infecting many more and causing economic
devastation. And although there were other newsworthy research developments in
2020, the pandemic set the course of science to an extraordinary degree.

Unite behind the science:

Both climate change and the COVID-19 pandemic require us to listen to experts, to
unite behind the science and not play politics with people’s lives. This means
responding to the challenge at the appropriate scale and treating a crisis like a crisis
with the urgency that’s needed.

Control attempts: successes and failures:

From the pandemic’s earliest days, epidemiologists have rushed to develop models
to predict the virus’s spread — and suggest what public-health measures could
help to control it.

In the absence of vaccines or treatments, officials worldwide have relied on what

are known as non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as lockdowns.

In January, officials in Wuhan showed how quickly shutting down almost every
aspect of daily life could contain the virus. Much of the world followed, with
similar restrictions on movement.

But the economic impact of lockdowns was swift and severe, which led many
countries to open up before the virus was under control.
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Uncertainty early in the pandemic about whether the virus was airborne led to
debate about the benefits of wearing face masks, which became politicized —
particularly in the United States.

Meanwhile, conspiracy theories, misinformation and sketchy science spread almost

as fast as the virus. These included discussions about the merits of letting the virus
run its course instead of controlling it.

Treatments, old and new:

Vaccines alone are unlikely to end the pandemic, given the logistics of deploying
jabs — which might be needed periodically — to the global population. The only
way out of this pandemic is the combination of vaccines and therapeutics.

Upgraded Healthcare System:

The pandemic stressed the need to prepare the healthcare system for handling rapid
surges in the volumes of patients. Steps are underway for creating adequate
capacity in hospitals to cope with emergencies better.

Digital health technologies like the use of contactless thermometers are on the rise,
improving patient care. The contagion has raised awareness among the masses
about adequate cleanliness.

People are forming habits of wearing masks and washing hands frequently,
practices that are certain to develop overall hygiene. Increased use of telemedicine
is making access to medical assistance convenient.

Since the protection of their family’s health has become everyone’s primary
concern, the improving face of hygiene and healthcare will relieve anxieties.

While politicians are throwing stones and blaming one another as hundreds of
innovators, entrepreneurs, and change makers are taking the lead to make a
difference,

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People (including myself) are forced to look at their lives from very different
perspectives and double or maybe triple check their values, priorities, and so forth.

My observations and self-reflections for the past five months made me sit down
and outline my ideas chronologically, knowing that I may end up becoming the
subject of criticism, judgment, hopefully inspiration, or at least respected for
writing this piece that calls for action. Here are my thoughts.

Keep the big picture in view and remain flexible:

Prior to the pandemic, I had a year plan for what I was going to do, how I was
going to do it, where I was going to travel, who I was going to see, what I was
going to wear, and who I going to delegate my projects and tasks. I did my best to
calculate and analyze my schedule to the tiniest details.

After the pandemic, I realized that well-calculated plans are not necessarily best
bets, but keeping the overall, big picture or vision and remaining flexible in my
planning is the best way forward. After all, I believe the wisdom of the saying:
Man Proposes, God Disposes

Switch from hard work to smart work:

Prior to the pandemic, I kept myself busy working in my business instead of

working on my business.

The hours seemed to pass unapologetically, focusing on one particular task that
was always a pain in the neck and thousands of messages in English, Chinese,
Simply put, I completely buried myself with my full-time and part-time
engagements.

After the pandemic (maybe even during the pandemic since we are still battling it),
I learned about the very simple and yet powerful quality to stay focused and
remove, or even better, switch off all other devices so I could think.

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Literally, for the first time in years, I gave space to my brain and imagination,
which go hand in hand, allowing them to fall in love with one another.

The result allowed me to focus on rebranding my project, which is called

Instamasks.

Remote work:

Prior to the pandemic, I used to meet many people that I work with and rarely
cared about the importance of remote work. I did not have experience managing
remote teams. Also, I used to hire contractors to work within the physical location.

During and after the pandemic, I benefited a lot from the power of focus and
started working remotely 100%.

I took a number of LinkedIn courses, since I never paid attention to the value of
premium accounts once I activated it. I completely overlooked the library of
educational items and professionals that are all in a single platform for me to easily
benefit from.

Remote work has changed my understanding of team management and the

importance of Emotional Intelligence centric management, particularly relating to
the task or problem, understanding the people I am working or involved with, and
recognizing the small actions that make big difference.

From semi-digital to complete digital:

Prior to the pandemic, some people were made to use digital products, apps, and
online services. People are social beings by nature, and I am no exception. I enjoy
getting to know people. Everyone has a story, regardless of whether they are a
seller at the grocery shop or an employee at a corporation.

As a result of the pandemic, we became aware of social distancing and its

associated nuances.

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We can’t shake hands, or rather it is not recommended. We are receptive to
everything around us, and constantly thinking what if this thing or that person who
just coughed is the carrier of the virus.

Thus, it made me explore new software applications and the latest digital
innovations. I even ended up developing some initial plans to implement an app for
tackling mental health-related issues or maybe working with Australia LifeLine to
do my part to make a social impact.

More health conscious:

Prior to the pandemic, I was hyperactive. I was always multitasking, and my

calendar was full of calls and meetings.

After the pandemic, when 90% of my plans and activities were subject to
reconsideration, I had to get rid of my monkey mind. I gradually tapped into
mental health activities.

I started practicing my hour of mental time only when I switched off everything so
I could simply enjoy my own company. Additionally, I engaged in a physical
workout just to gain a better understanding of myself that amplified my focus and
productivity.

Recommendations:

“The spread of the super-contagious Delta variant has prompted new

restrictions around the world and spurred stark new warnings from public
health officials and also fuelling new outbreaks in the Many Parts of the World
mainly among the unvaccinated”.

With the global corona virus pandemic in its second year and vaccine safety
concerns easing, governments are still struggling to vaccinate their populations
to approach herd immunity levels.

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New variants are emerging as many locales plan to reopen schools, domestic and
international travel is increasing, and people relax their vigilance around physical
distancing, mask wearing, and other public health interventions.

In India, where the Delta variant was first identified, a massive, Delta-driven wave
began in late March and receded by late June, even though mask wearing was
spotty and less than 1% of the population was vaccinated as the wave began.

Conclusion:

“We can begin to imagine life after the pandemic. It’s up to us what we make of
it”.

Life before and after Pandemic like COVID-19 has been very different. As a result
of the Corona virus, I was forced to change everything that happens in my life.
That`s a fact.

But, I chose to surely change my attitude and adjust my approach, which ultimately
made me more productive.

During the pandemic, I chose to transform myself and to be a better me instead of

falling into the hands of depression. And, I think my efforts have been positive and
beneficial.

The current pandemic has placed the whole world at a standstill with nations going
into lockdown to stall the virus’s relentless march. Still, there is no specific data on
when situations will stabilize.

What is certain is that the people are learning valuable lessons through this global
crisis, and life after COVID is sure to change for the better. Aristotle, the
celebrated philosopher, taught, “It is during our darkest moments that we must
focus to see the light.”

Thus, this is perhaps the right time to look ahead at expected improvements in the
post-COVID world.
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Sustainable Lifestyle:

People learned to live with the bare essentials during the lockdown. Healthy home-
cooked meals replaced junk food. Closed shopping malls highlighted the futility of
mindless consumerism.

As pollution levels went down and nature flourished, people realized the necessity
of a sustainable lifestyle for the health of the planet. In the future, more
environment-friendly ways to operate will undoubtedly emerge, like remote
working to save fuel and online paperless transactions.

The people are more likely to give priority to a simple yet rewarding lifestyle,
reducing consumption, increasing savings as precautions against future income
uncertainties. The protection of the earth and the next generation is going to drive a
majority of life-choices.

Pandemic-induced lockdowns led to decreased pollution levels in some places,

revealing the stark reality of human destruction to the planet.

We must rethink the future of our environment and tackle climate change and
environmental degradation with ambition and urgency.

Only then can we protect the health, livelihoods, food security and nutrition of
all people, and ensure that our ‘new normal’ is a better one.

Therefore, humankind – more than before – should stand together to tackle

increasing rates of pollution and its harmful consequences. Climate change is a
top global security issue, and the response needs to match this.

‘Global standards and laws for environmental conservation should be reviewed

at higher global levels with better monitoring and evaluation’.

The End
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