I WAS going to write about the upcoming UEFA Champions League Finals between two of the richest clubs in the world in Bayern Munich and Paris St. Germain (PSG) in a literal battle of champions. Then I saw a media colleague of mine say that his spouse was tested positive for the Covid-19 and his entire family—who were exposed—are undergoing testing and observation.
On a daily basis, you are confronted by the news of more infections and more death. I have written about frontliners who I all know personally. Just hearing about their daily battles is already heart-rending.
This sad news from a colleague adds to the face of the effects of this virus—invisible like to the human eye—that has taken the life of a classmate of mine and some other people I previously worked with before.
Having taken the swab test before as a pre-requisite to go to work was enough cause for concern (I tested negative). Imagine living with it.
Seeing a statement from the World Health Organization that it will take about two years for this virus to be defeated has me very much concerned.
When the Philippines, like the rest of the world went into lockdown this past March, I—like I am sure most everybody else—had to deal with anxiety and all sorts of other things.
I constantly thought about food, water and basic services running out. People like myself lost my job. So imagine when people have no money or access to life’s necessities…we saw a sampling of that during Ondoy and Yolanda.
It is shocking to see people act like we are not in the midst of a pandemic. I can understand the cabin fever they have felt, but the fact that there isn’t a vaccine available and that infections keep rising should be cause for much concern.
I can understand going to the grocery but people going to the mall with their pet dogs, biking around in groups or plain hanging out is just beyond me.
I went to a hardware store to buy some light bulbs and dog food last Friday when this couple in line literally stood a footstep away. The cashier reminded them of keeping their social distance…twice. Each time they ignored it. When I finally had enough to ask them to observe it, they got mad.
Either they believe they are immune to the virus or they don’t really care for the protocols says something about why people are outside trying to pretend as if there is no killer virus rampaging throughout the world.
Incensed, I put my things down and made a move in the man’s direction. The security guard and two store personnel stepped in and asked the man to get out of the store if he isn’t going to abide by the rules.
He chose to leave rather than abide by social distancing rules.
On one hand, I feel for my media colleague and the friends I have lost. On the other hand, I don’t feel any sympathy for those with a careless disregard for the simple rules such as practicing social distancing and staying home.
The sad thing is their stupidity and disregard for rules also affects other people.
I am even more careful now when I go out. I bring my own sanitizer and gloves. I sanitize everything in the car including the wheels every time I go out. We have a disinfecting pad outside the front door. We disinfect door knobs and the gate on a daily basis.
As I have hit mid-age, I started to think of my own mortality. This pandemic has made me think of that and more. even for my own family.
I am going to watch that Champions League Final. But this will be the first of this annual event that will be held without fans. Television, streaming sites, and well, sports were supposed to take my mind away from my problems. At least for a while. But watching that final…there will be a constant reminder of the frightening state of the world we live in.
But I guess that footballers like Bayern Munich’s Robert Lewandowski and Benjamin Pavard and PSG’s Neymar and Kylan Mbappe will offer me faces of hope. That when a vaccine is found, we can go back to the world we once lived in.