DR MAXWELL ADEYEMI

THE death toll from covid19 in the past weeks has been distressingly catastrophic. We are no longer hearing death figures but seeing and watching friends, colleagues and family members snatched away by the cold hands of covid19-mediated deaths. The unbelievable departure of acquaintances, people we know, people with whom we interacted, friends and family members is being translated into real pain and anguish. The reality of covid19 is hitting home and our collective vulnerability has become palpable.

The death rates are escalating, the infection rates are astronomical for a small population as ours, yet some people are still behaving reckless with wanton disregard for health guidelines, the state of emergency (SoE) and its restrictions. People are compromising the population with their indisciplined and lawless actions and behaviour, having parties in the midst of a pandemic. Many arrests are being made during the SoE, a time when we are all advised to stay home in the interest of protecting and saving the nation from the pains of the pandemic. One must accept that it's difficult for many financially, mentally and socially. It's not an easy road, but there is no easy way out of this situation and some of us are making it worse.

For the sake of the children

While many of us may want to behave in a particular way and ignore the consequences, we should spare a thought also for the children - the future of the nation. For over a year they have been deprived of proper peer education, interactions and social skills, which have caused mental stress and depression in some of them. Some have been forced to drop out of school, while others have been lured into improper lifestyles due to lack of supervision, idleness, frustration or even financial hardships. The time and skill lost may never be recovered, and sadly, the effects of this may not be fully manifest until five to ten years later in the form of numerous social problems, crime and deviant behaviours. So if as adults you don't want to do it for yourself, do it for your children. Let us do what is needed to take control of this pandemic.

Health workers' fatigue

Health workers have been at the forefront of the battle for over a year, many of them working without vacations and some, even when exposed to the virus, have been asked to self-monitor for symptoms and continue working. Like many other front-line workers, health workers leave their families on a daily basis to risk their lives in the line of duty. Some have died and others have lost family members, yet they continue to fight on saving lives. The truth is, at some point, if they contain these levels of workload, they will reach a point of physical and mental fatigue - another reason for us to think and act sensibly to try to get the pandemic under control.

Seek help and isolate if you are sick

The advice has always been to stay home and isolate if your get sick. Unfortunately there are reports that some people who are ill are venturing into the work place and i

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