Spain and Italy showed the way by coordinating thanksgiving gestures earlier this month. This was meant to acknowledge and thank all those who work tirelessly to keep the rest of us safe and healthy. We in India decided to do the same along with a self-imposed 14 #JantaCurfew on Sunday. Great idea! Sunday evening saw all these hashtags trend: #ClapForOurCarers #5Baje5Minute #CoronaWarriors #ThankYou. Then #COVIDIOTS was also trending; here’s why:
At 5 PM, the people gave a tremendous ovation to healthcare professionals, sanitation and emergency workers and all others who serve us and keep us safe in these difficult times.
People were clapping, using plates and spoons, blowing into conch shells and ringing bells to express their gratitude.
People such as Tusshar Kapoor shared images and videos such as these. They spoke out about of their efforts at social distancing; as #IndiaFightsCorona.
Some made more noise than others.
Javed Akhtar is seen applauding in this video.
This was the scene at a lot of places – people participating from their own windows or balconies.
Seen here are policemen clapping – and receiving claps from others – on largely deserted streets.
However, we also saw this. At a time when people are asked to socially distance themselves from others, this happened in direct contradiction to that expectation.
Unfortunately, a lot of people completely missed the point of staying indoors and decided that 5 PM was the time to celebrate --- not sure what, though.
Soon this hashtag was trending in response to all those thoughtless and stupid people who decided to come out on to the streets for reasons best known to them.
We just have to stay home and vegetate – those of us who have the luxury of being able to do this really ought not to screw it up.
Some of us are likely to have received this nonsensical message on our WhatsApp. Other messages about ‘ancient wisdom’ and the ability of the sound of bells and conches to ‘displace’ or weaken the virus were also circulating all over social media.
You likely received this one as well, about some chemical to be sprayed from choppers. When I pointed out that this is obviously fake news, the kind old lady who sent me the message said why take the chance, better to be safe – sigh!
Breaking the chain of misinformation is as vitally important as breaking the chain of viral contagion, as this brilliant cartoon from Satish Acharya reminds us.
To stay safe from #coronavirus #COVID19 practice these simple dos and don'ts. Steer clear of misinformation, relay only on genuine sources of information and self-regulate. As Twitter reminds us, don’t be a #COVIDIOT.
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