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Is Social Distancing: Myth or Panic?

Istikhar Ali, Lochan Sharma[i]

Diseases have always harmed society’s cohesion, not just with its consequences, but the myth that broadens distance within family and society such as Tuberculosis, and AIDS. Myth is a grave apprehension than a disease because it generates panic and panic accelerate distrust that reflects through a person’s behavior. Society has experienced many endemic and pandemic emergencies across the world. But coronavirus (COVID-19) is different in a way that with unknown treatment, and infinite myths circulated on social media platforms have halted the lives, blocked mobility and house arrested them, complemented with panic all around. The intensity of panic is very high in India, primarily due to lack of awareness: How corona create social distancing? What is the myth of corona? Will it be possible to ‘Work-From-Home’ for vulnerable section? These are some vital concern that needs to be clarified in the first place.

Prevention is better than cure, but social distancing is not appropriate for society if practiced along with myths. The world is fighting with a novel corona with well facility and services, and India is facing different problems, garnished with myths and panic. In India, the corona is a severe problem, but the way government deal with nominal budget allocation for the treatment seems negligible. Meanwhile, the spread of panic through social media and news channel that is emphasizing social distancing increases misbehave and distrust within society. Physically distance and social solidarity must be actively practices, but panic spread with social distancing simply accelerates the forceful isolation. Social distancing is the behavior which people must voluntarily perform and it is the privilege that marginalizes section would not afford. Still, now, people are forced to ‘socially distancing’, sometimes filling silly complaints, spreading rumors and objectifying their jealousy at another level.

On the other hand, ‘work-from-home’ for the marginalized section seems insignificant for the cab driver, food and milk delivery, vegetable hawkers, and security guard etc. Marginalized sections are always adversely affected by any pandemic, and their life is at the risk of income and wellbeing. They are the utmost vulnerable section in society in the time of corona, but the law is accurately banning them, irrespective of all the care concerns.

India has not established robust connectivity of network that people can work and study from their home. People are feeling isolated, impacting on their wellbeing holistically. They do not want to go home because of exposure during travel that will affect their elderly family members. Draconian law and pressurize the casual workers who have not a sufficient amount to bear expensive tickets to go back home. Still, diktat forcefully implemented, issued the various illogical notice, shut down the universities, institutions, factories and market without providing prerequisite facilities and services.

Indians are suffering from immense poverty, employment and adverse economic conditions. Yet, whatever they had, taken by the government and government is imposing diktat without delivering adequate services and expecting the masses to stay at home and call for ‘Janta Curfew’. Marginalized sections do care for their life and future, but they have to come out because if they would not do work, they will die of hunger and poverty before corona does. Because most are daily wages earners, they earn daily their livelihood. The market would remain closed, and people should stay back home, but what about their health and wellbeing. ‘Banging thali’, ‘Go Corona Go’ celebrating ‘nothing’, and mimicking other country’s joy can neither feed one’s stomach nor provides resources and security with the current scenario. At the same time, an elite section of the society started to prove that it is scientifically reasonable to kill coronavirus. Same day corona affected cases raised rapidly. People are not against physical distancing, but the social distance is penetrating fear that broadens the communication gap. Due to complexity of social distancing, everyone is suspect, and their relationship with friends and neighbor become more susceptible because there is no such awareness spread on social distancing in society by the public and private intuitions. Furthermore, constant monitoring by police seems pretty torture for those in quarantine phase, asymptomatic.

There is so much panic around corona that people resorted to inhuman behavior, such as, beating a man on sneezing in public space. Police are patrolling in a community-created panic not only for those who arrived from a foreign country but also isolating them from the community. In many cases suspected, have flown from the hospital due to staff behavior, inadequate facilities and resources. On the other hand, misbehaving with northeastern community, taunting that by ‘corona ja rha hai’ (corona is going) is such as shame. Such racist comments, happening in series impact deep down on their lives, their psychological wellbeing. The myth is circulating through memes and social media that impaired social cohesion. While there is no need to panic, simple precaution could be the savior.

Public and Private institutions, administration, media agency and community should come together and deal with corona pandemic, only social distancing, house arrest and dictatorial notices will not save humanity. Life of underprivileged will end if they won’t work while doctors work at the cost of their lives. They are dying, and they know, but they had no choice to go back to their home and make distance themselves. It is not that they do not want to follow, but they are left with no other alternative.

In this crucial time, we shall connect and reach out to others for empathy and care because the people around us do not have such amenities and resources to keep alive themselves during isolation. We must spread awareness rather than myth and panic if any death occurs around us, we will be responsible. Social solidarity will help to fight against a brutal virus.

[i] Author details: 

  1. Istikhar Ali (PhD Scholar, CSMCH, JNU, Delhi, India), Mob No. +91 7305353688, Specialization: Social Inequality, Marginalisation and Health System. 
  2. Lochan Sharma (PhD Scholar, CSMCH, JNU, Delhi, India), Mob No. +91 9540511303, Specialization: Human Development, Disability, Fitness Culture, and Public Health Care.