COVID-19, a newly found stream of the novel coronavirus has been spreading incredibly quickly. The World Health Organization (WHO) has now even identified it as an epidemic. Over the past two months, there has been an increase in the number of individuals affected. Various countries have now taken drastic measures to “flatten the curve” of the virus. For example, schools have closed down in the Americas and multiple European countries, workers have been told to work from home, and many flights have been cancelled to prevent the spreading of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
Multiple grocery stores have run out of important supplies such as toilet paper and water. Individuals are stocking up on goods such as canned foods, rice, and flour. In times like this, it is incredibly difficult to stay calm and content. And the incredibly long lines wrapping around your local grocery store certainly do not help! In this article, we will discuss ways to help you stay positive, calm and collected during this difficult time.
5 Tips To Stay Calm During The Coronavirus (COVID-19) Pandemic:
1. Take All Necessary Precautions
You have probably heard this a thousand times by now, but the importance of being cautious cannot be emphasized enough! Proper sanitation is very important. As per various studies and reports, the coronavirus (COVID-19) spread occurs through droplet transmission. This means that any saliva, sweat, blood, etc. can cause transmission. Therefore, be careful for yourself and for the sake of others. If you cough or sneeze, use a tissue or your inner elbow. Avoid touching unknown and public surfaces.
Listen to what the world leaders, councils, and health organizations have to say about the coronavirus pandemic. Take their advice and do not wait until the last minute to implement it.
For example, following the outbreak of the coronavirus, the World Head of the Ahmadiyya Muslim Community, the Fifth Khalifa (Caliph), His Holiness, Hazrat Mirza Masroor Ahmad has said,
It is very important to act upon the precautionary measures that are being announced [by the health authorities]. Large gatherings should be avoided… If anyone shows any signs of a slight fever, flu or body-ache, sneezing or other symptoms then they should [take precautionary steps]. Doctors are advising that hands should be washed regularly and hand sanitizers should be used. If one’s hands are dirty, they should avoid contact with the face until clean… Ensure personal hygiene is maintained at all times and [this] will reduce the need for hand sanitizers that are already reported to be in short supply.
Being cautious will ultimately lower your chances of catching the coronavirus. Ultimately enabling you to be internally at peace with yourself. It will enable you to continue your day-to-day tasks and activities with ease and care.
2. Prepare A Stock Of Necessary Items
With various countries shutting down events, clubs, activities, etc. amid the coronavirus pandemic, as a society we need to be prepared and make arrangements for ourselves. Being prepared is very important especially if you run out of supplies and services that you consider to be necessities. You need to have a backup plan. If you are prepared you will be able to remain calm and happy. You will know what steps to take and which substitutes to use. Being prepared will also allow you to continue on with life and enjoy your uninterrupted supplies and most importantly, stay safe.
Judging by the line ups and panics created within various grocery stores throughout the world, we need to understand that our world is unpredictable! If you are one of the individuals rushing to the store nowadays, you may forget to pick up a few important supplies amongst the store rush and panic.
In this section of the article, I have therefore attached a “basic emergency kit” list created by Humanity First (the international humanitarian relief organization), that you can use to prepare.
Food Preparation List:
Along with collecting food and hygiene items for preparation, you should create photocopies of all your important ID cards and documents (health card, licence, etc.). You should also keep some cash on you rather than being solely dependent on credit cards and online payment methods.
3. Stay Informed & Level-Headed
Read the news! Keep yourself updated on the events taking place in the world due to the coronavirus pandemic. This will help you understand the importance and extremity of the issue, and how to deal with it. Try finding and comprehending the common trends between all the cases. What is helping people overcome the virus? What is causing continuous spread?
Understand how the disease is evolving and its effect on yourself and others. Do not panic but do not take this pandemic too lightly either. If you refuse to take extra precautions and believe you won’t be impacted by the coronavirus, understand your impact on others. You may come into contact with the virus and while you may survive it, you might spread it to someone who can’t.
On March 8th, 2020, Johannes Urpelainen tweeted,
A quick reminder that if you are a healthy adult, you are not cancelling your event or travel or conference because of yourself – but because of the more vulnerable people who will suffer if you become a vector. The number of deaths will depend on how we all behave.
4. Find Alternative Uses of Your Time
Due to the exponential growth of coronavirus, most events, conferences, jobs, are being postponed or moved online. Judging by this, you will have to spend a lot of time from the comfort of home. Therefore it is important you find alternative uses of your time. Rather than using the coronavirus pandemic as an excuse to sleep in or catch up on your favourite Netflix show, use this time productively. Find a hobby, spend time with your family at home, etc. to maintain positivity. Most importantly, take care of your health, hygiene, and food choices. Being in the comfort of your home is not an excuse to be unsanitary.
5. Be Kind
During this epidemic, the most important thing you can do is be kind! Be kind to every race, religion, and gender. This is not a time to point fingers, be racist, or greedy. Rather, a time for everyone to come together and help each other. You do not need 600 rolls of toilet paper. There is enough to go around! Leave some for your the person waiting in line behind you. When you are kind and caring to those around you, you will automatically feel calm and happy.
Final Words
The coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic came very unexpectedly and is growing exponentially. Trying to stay positive and calm during a time like this can be very difficult for many of us. By following and understanding these five tips we can hopefully overcome this epidemic in an efficient manner.
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