No, we still won't be safe after the Sunday 'Curfew'!
- Suresh Kodoor
There is a message going around in the social media forums now saying we will emerge as a safe country once the Sunday 'Curfew' is over! Reason? Because the life span of the virus is 12 hours and the curfew is for 14 hours and thus corona virus present at the public places would have died by then.
This is more of a 'made up' justification by the 'bhakth brigade' (as an afterthought to conceal the embarrassment in the face of widespread criticism of PM's speech, which did not lay out any concrete strategy and steps to deal with the Corona challenges), than with any scientific basis (just like the justifications that were 'manufactured' one after the other (as each one flopped) after demonetisation)
The said message doing rounds at present is totally wrong, misleading and dangerous. Unless there is a total lockdown for 2-3 weeks (which may not be practical), one can not be completely 'safe' from the virus. A 14 hr curfew WILL NOT make the country emerge safe out of the virus scare. Believing such misleading information will only instil a false sense of security and will lead to people throwing their caution to wind post Sunday curfew.
1. Life span of the Corona virus range from a few hours to couple of days depending on the surface (Copper - 4hrs, Cardboard - 48 hrs, Steel - 48 hrs, Plastic - 72 hrs (source: Economist))
2. Only those Virus that are stuck to the outside surfaces will die after its lifespan is over. The Virus inside an affected person will not die until he/she is completely cured. So, if an affected person get out and roam around after the 14-hr curfew, he/she will again spread the virus to other people. Until all the already affected people as well as those who are presently the carriers (difficult to identify until they develop symptoms) are in isolation without any outside contacts for at least next 3 weeks, nobody is safe from the virus. So, be aware that you are not still 'safe' even after the 14-hr curfew as affected people and 'virus carriers' could be still out there and thus the virus is not going to disappear all of a sudden post Sunday curfew
So, irrespective of you observing the 14-hr curfew, please do not get out and roam around for next 2-3 weeks unless absolutely necessary. For some people, especially for those whose daily bread depends on their going out for work, it may be difficult to stay back at home. The community and government will have to come forward to help them pass this difficult period. However, all those who can stay home may please observe self-restraint for next 3 weeks and take all precautions in case they have to go out for any valid reason.
When there is already a standing instruction and advisory from multiple agencies asking people not to venture out for next couple of weeks unless absolutely necessary, another call for one-day curfew will only do more harm than good, as is evident from the messages doing rounds. The 'break the chain' is a strategy which needs meticulous execution extending for a few weeks. It is not a 14-hr showbiz! Please do not get misled by misinformation. This is not a time for trivia.
- Suresh Kodoor
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