As India grapples with the coronavirus pandemic; trying to balance public health with economic wellbeing, we enter #Lockdown5 or #UnlockOne as social media is also calling it. While infection numbers continue to climb, the need to mitigate economic costs meant relaxation measures had to be put into place with successive lockdown phases. Now that we are in the 5th phase of the lockdown, much of the country is now open; which is why people are referring to #Lockdown5 as #Unlock1.
Beginning in March, India saw the strictest lockdown of any country in the world.
We found our own ways to cope with being indoors – some of us became more disciplined, while some of us became much less disciplined.
At the end of the 4th lockdown, people were wondering what was in store.
Much is unclear still. There are directions issued by the centre, state, local bodies and then there are residents’ associations who make up their own rules as well.
Meanwhile, in containment zones, people will still have to comply with strict rules and regulations.
Some are less scared of the virus than the hardship that lockdown brings along. The lakhs of migrant workers trying to get home in any way possible points to this.
Some are not impressed by the lockdown relaxations.
They are questioning why the first, very strict lockdown was imposed and why it is now being relaxed given the numbers then and now.
They feel that strict lockdown should have continued since lifting it will result in a wide proliferation of infections from the virus.
Many feel that the remaining restrictions are now meaningless.
There is a great deal of fear among people who are still very, very scared of the COVID-19 virus.
These people don’t want to endanger their health by risking exposure to a potentially deadly virus if they can help it.
Some of us are lucky enough to work from home, suffering few or no hardships. For the few lucky ones, it doesn’t really matter whether its #Lockdown1 or 11.
Though educational institutions are slated to reopen soon, everything still seems strange and unreal.
Meanwhile students cheered the announcement cancelling final exams of students by the Maharashtra govt.
Others who now have exams looming in the not-too-distant future are far less happy.
For them, happy days are not here again.
People have decided to get on with all the things they missed out on during the lockdown.
Some are very happy or just deeply relieved. For many, such as daily wagers or street vendors, penury and even starvation became realities during the lockdown.
Will it return? Some feel that #Lockdown5 or #Unlock1 – may return at some point.
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