Yes, coronavirus is a threat to be wary of, but exacerbating the situation by calling it the arrival of pestilence is something we should refrain from. Why do you ask? Well, the pandemic has already got the world in a frenzy and you don’t want to worsen the situation now, do you? Given that you can’t ascertain if this is indeed the case or not, it’s better than to err on the side of caution.
Such plagues and pandemics are not new to our planet. We all remember smallpox and bubonic plagues right? Well, they occurred long ago so it’s understandable if you missed them. What about mad cow disease, chicken flu, swine flu? Even if you missed these, surely you’ve heard of the SARS virus and Ebola. Spreading like wildfire, these diseases have brought countries to their knees and the novel coronavirus is not so novel in doing this at least.
One might argue that these combined are proof of pestilence and you may not be wrong. It might be. But, even if it is, there’s nothing to be afraid of. It was foretold and it will happen. We all knew about it and so if this is indeed the case that the world is about to end, we should be responding to it in a logical manner not hastening the pace of destruction. Many of you may be wondering what you can do. The following pointers are aimed to help you respond to the situation effectively and curb the spread of the virus.
Pray and Ask Forgiveness
When the problem is celestial in nature there really is only one way to fight it, ask for heaven’s help.
According to a passage in 2 Chronicles 7, that warns about the plague states that "If I shut up heaven that there be no rain, or if I command the locusts to devour the land, or if I send pestilence among my people; If my people, which are called by my name, shall humble themselves, and pray, and seek my face, and turn from the wicked ways; then will I hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin, and will heal their land."
Excessive use of the earth’s resources is ravaging the planet. Man’s greed has brought this upon us and if we’re to emerge as better people we must reflect and learn from our mistakes. This also includes not letting hatred and prejudice blind us. This year we’ve seen Asians attacked verbally and physically on the streets of New York and Berlin. A better world requires that we all be caring for one another.
And, what better time to do this than during self-isolation? So, take this opportunity to ask God for forgiveness. You can download Bible App for Kids, Life Church Bible, Bible Trivia Quiz, or Daily Bible Verse. These easy to use apps can help you pray and a little bible reading is always good so why not.
Take Precaution, Practice Social Distancing
The threat of coronavirus does not stem from its ability to kill. According to a report published in The New England Journal of Medicine, the death rate of coronavirus stood at 1.4%. Most people infected by the virus recover and go back to their normal lives. Why this has become a pandemic, however, is because it can survive outside a host’s body for a long time on a variety of surfaces meaning humans are likely to come in contact with them easily and get infected. While people can recover, they do need extensive care and so many people falling ill together severely strains the medical facilities.
Our only chance thus in combatting this plague is by leveling the curve so that hospitals are not burdened. This is not that hard, all you have to do is practice social distancing to ensure if you carry the virus it doesn’t get transmitted to anyone and if they are carrying it, you don’t get infected. If you experience any of the symptoms monitor them and get tested. If you can’t you must isolate yourself from the others till they abate. If you have recently traveled abroad, you must get tested and you must quarantine yourself for at least 14 days to make sure you don’t have the virus.
Other than this, try to eat healthy to ensure your immune system can fight the threat if it attacks your body.
Final Words
COVID-19 is by no means something to ignore or take lightly, but indulging in panicky behavior won’t get us anywhere. Just practice the above and you will surely make it through unharmed. Stay updated on the situation and be sure to refer to authentic news sources. Spectrum channel lineup includes a number of good news channels so be sure to check with them. Fake news is just as much a plague that we should be wary of. That’s it, practice social distancing and ask God for guidance. The world will soon recover!
