Make America Safe Again!

The lockdown has ended, the businesses have started to re-open their doors. It was a welcoming change to see the empty parking lots fill with cars again. We have revamped the entire office setting, scheduling, etc., educated my staff with the new safety protocols and screening procedures.
Few nervous days went by when we were still learning to breathe, talk with our N 95, and face shield on. With those multiple layering on the face, I felt so distanced from my patients, in addition to the new social distancing norms. The face shields often fogged, giving me a feeling of getting submerged underwater. We could not get enough hand sanitizer bottles in our office, we scrubbed our hands 100 hundred times, enough to make us look like skinless chicken! So it was only natural to get appalled on finding a doctor's office right in the same building break all the rules. As I walked into my office building on a fine morning, to my displeasure, shock, annoyance, etc etc., I found patients waiting right next to each other shoulder-to-shoulder outside a locked office. Thank god they were at least wearing their masks!. When I confronted that physician, he was angry, and in denial! I was talked to as if it was my own battle against the virus, and he was immune to it.
This is the real problem in America and around the world when the people in the leadership position are either being arrogant enough not to follow the safety precautions or they are in absolute denial of a dire situation. I find educated people acting like morons. We seem to have wrong role models and leaders in a crisis situation. Why is America being the most developed in the world topping the chart as number # 1 country with the highest number of cases of COVID-19? The death toll has surpassed 100,000 more than the Vietnam war and the sad part is our first outbreak has not even ended. We still have to face this harsh reality for many many more months until we have a safe vaccine in hand.
Our own neighbor Canada where the outbreak started just about the same time as in the US seem to have done a commendable job of bringing it under control by following strict safety measures, staggered re-opening, keeping the politics out and most importantly listening to their Prime minister who is not ashamed to wear a mask in public. Countries like Singapore,Taiwan having learnt their lessons from SARS had set up an excellent task force to act promptly in any epidemic/pandemic. On the contrary our own task force was dissolved long before the mandatory mask rules were enforced. The warnings from doctors,scientists are being ignored constantly and we are seeing its repercussions every single day. There is no one national policy for the safety mandates, instead every state, even county is acting independently.
America saw people hitting the beaches the past 2 holiday weekends as if this pandemic was long gone. I don't understand what type of wake up call they would need to wake their inner conscience from a deep slumber. While these imbecile party, the most vulnerable are succumbing to this deadly outbreak and the selfless healthcare workers are putting their lives at risk. More than a vaccine or anti-viral we need proper leadership to steer this country in the right direction. The public is constantly getting bombarded with conflicting opinions. The WH and WHO are not thinking alike,that's the issue. When Dr.Fauci is pleading with the public to be compliant with wearing the mask, listen to the expert. Getting a mask alone is not sufficient but wear it correctly matters. Mask is meant to cover the nose and mouth... not the chin or forehead!

All disasters require active participation, ownership by everyone to curb it. The current crisis is the mother of all crises, aren't we supposed to show solidarity at this time at least! This virus has not been partial to anyone, the rich, the poor, the doctors, the celebrities, the millionaires to the homeless...all equally vulnerable. No firearms or missile can protect us, only masks can do it at this time. It has to be a joint effort by everyone to follow the rules to protect themselves and the people around them. Until everyone realizes that we are morally, ethically bound by this new social rules our only hope is holding on to our dear....masks!!

The Crown Virus

Re-incarnated as COVID-19, this novel Coronavirus came into this world,

Armed with keys to enter human cells, squeezing out oxygen,

and triggering a cascade of inflammatory reactions spiraling down

to respiratory failure and death. 

Unlike its predecessors, this strain causing a Tsunami wave of illnesses and death.

From flu-like illness to fatality...its presentation changing like the

designs on the kaleidoscope

Making the best and the brightest Virologist to Pulmonologist puzzled.

It hopped from person to person, transported by respiratory droplets,

and it rested on the fomites to attack its next victim.

From Wuhan, it made its footprints into every part of the world in a matter of weeks.

Distancing us all socially, crushing us economically.

Fear is the only emotion on the human faces now.

No terrorist in our recent history has induced such fear

in humans as this invisible enemy!

We are in a war with a malicious microorganism with dwindling supplies of PPE, losing our own brave soldiers every single day, still figuring out ways to conquer it…

From age-old Chloroquine to mechanical ventilators to plasma transfusion,

we continue to come up with tactics to battle this new beast. 

Until we invent a vaccine or treatment, the only thing we are going to hold onto is....

hope and of course our masks!

Our pandemic world

Memorial weekend signals the start of summer in America. Americans, especially in Northeast like me, get very excited about the thought of putting away those heavy jackets, gloves, and snow boots. The freedom of going out to the beach barefooted and feeling the grains of sand on the toes is priceless. The thought of feeling the warm sun rays on my face while I prune my roses makes me jump up in joy.  Everyone start thinking about summer vacations, picnics, cook-outs, flea markets, etc., etc. People gather in their yards, parks, beaches feeling liberated from the winter blues. Memorial Day parades happen in every town, with streets decorated in blue, white & red theme, marching bands from local schools playing the patriotic songs and excited crowd lining the sidewalks with the flags. This was all before an invisible intruder hit a pause button on our lives. Our freedom, health, finances, happiness all wiped away in an instant by this pandemic of historic proportions.

Never in our lifetime have we experienced an outbreak that would put the entire world in a lockdown mode for months. People afraid to even step out of their houses with fear of contracting this terrible infection. Masks becoming an integral part of our outfits and hand sanitizer becoming our shields. We would have never imagined a world where women would care less about their mascara than their masks. Similarly, generous layers of hand sanitizer decorated women's hands than the nail polishes.

With social distancing measures, meet & greet has become a thing of the past. The joy of socializing is take away when we have to stay 6 feet apart, wearing our masks, not sharing a handshake, or a hug.
We all could not think of getting on a crowded subway or rubbing shoulder with a stranger on a flight now. The things we did so casually have become so complicated since this outbreak. The new protocols or safety measures that are imposed on us have changed our lives upside down.
Our world now becoming nearly "Virtual"... from doctor's visit to marriages all done online. It has really opened new avenues for many professions where digitalization did not exist before. I hope that "Work from home" culture persists long after this pandemic vanishes, keeping our roads and air cleaner.

This virus not only gave us emotional and financial stress, but it also taught us to be humble. Its wrath did not spare the rich and the famous. In the medical field, every doctor was scratching their head by the varied presentation of this infection and how to combat it. In a country like the US with a robust infrastructure who would have imagined a short supply of the most basic equipment to protect our health care workers in the frontline? Finally, this microbe has clearly shown us that monetary possession does not mean much, especially during a crisis. How many of us reached for our wallet in the last two months to feel relaxed? On the other hand, people around the world have been engaging in virtual meetings, social media, etc. to stay connected with their loved ones. What really is giving us the strength is our willpower, which is, in turn, powered by our personal relationships. Social distancing has, in fact, brought us closer together emotionally, and this pandemic has clearly shown us the value of human bond over the stock market bond. 

The Corona craziness

Who would have thought the March Madness will mean a different type of madness this year. The excitement of the basketball court, being replaced with an extreme sense of panic in every corner of America. Even the luck of the Irish could not save the St.Patrick's day celebration. The usually crowded pubs, restaurants around this time of the year were left deserted due to the government-mandated curfew in many cities. St.Patrick's day parade, one of the largest celebrations in the world, canceled for the first time ever due to this virulent virus.
A fragile microorganism makes the stock market to plummet, schools to close, and businesses to shut down. Broadway pulled its curtains indefinitely, Hollywood turned off its lights, a record number of flights came to a squealing halt, restaurants turned their chairs upside down.... the entire world in lockdown due to this rapidly spreading pandemic. It makes us all feel so vulnerable. Never in our lifetime have we all witnessed an outbreak of this magnitude. There seem to a shortage of everything from canned food to compassion, respirator to respite, masks to mercy. The Corona induced craziness is unbelievable. People hoarding supplies from the stores as if there is no tomorrow!
I believe that adversities are indeed the litmus tests to differentiate an altruist from egoistic.
During hurricane Sandy, in 2012, strangers from the community gathered to pile sandbags on the beaches, deliver food to the elderly, rescue residents from their flooded basements... a real act of kindness at a time of need. Similarly, the Chennai floods in 2015 not only demarcated the low-lying area of the city but also spotlighted those incredibly selfless people who resurrected the city successfully in a few months. We are now seeing thousands of health-care workers on the frontline who have put their lives at risk to save others. Many working even without proper personal protective gear, their patience, and resilience put to the test. My own friend Anu, an infectious disease specialist, has been an altruist angel being in the eye of the storm and braving it.

The handwashing that we have been emphasizing forever suddenly takes center stage of every conversation, news, and talk shows. The so neglected disinfectants are suddenly getting sold like hotcakes, and the protective gears that stayed on the storage units of the hospitals are being used like water.  This pathogen gave a new face to this world that is the masked face. Handshakes and hugs being substituted by elbow shakes or our good old Namaste! The social distancing putting the already distanced community into social isolation. Corona in Greek means a crown, this virus definitely takes the crown for causing the maximum damage to mankind.
This unseen enemy has induced greater fear and uncertainty than the terrorist attack of 911. Despite the advanced technology and medical science, we all feel so unprotected with our new battle against this pandemic. COVID-19 is an equal opportunity provider.... does not spare anyone, from Tom Hanks to Kevin Durant to Mrs. Trudeau to Aam Adhami, everyone is in its wrath. It makes us all realize that despite one's financial status or fame or title, we all are equal in the eyes of a pathogen and in the face of death.
While the cops were happy with the decline in the incidence of motor vehicle accidents, they were annoyed by the dramatic increase in domestic violence for obvious reasons! China saw not only a record number of Coronavirus infection but also a record number of divorce rates in recent months. Divorce lawyers see gold mines in this crisis while the rest of the working class is running to file for unemployment benefits. Everyone in this world seems to be suffering from some fever or other; if not Corona, then it is Cabin fever. Cabin fever has brought out a lot of hidden talents, we see Smulers, Tik-Toker cropping up every day of this lockdown period. Quarantine taught us the value of companionship, social distancing made us long for the warmth of the human touch and most important of all it taught us the fragility of our existence.
In my own experience, it felt bizarre to screen every patient as a potential COVID-19 infected patient, to wear the N-95 ask that covered 95% of my facial expression and the gloves that concealed that warmth of my touch. Even my staff obsessing with spraying aerosols in every room, wiping off all the surface with loads of disinfectant wipes while saying a prayer or two to oust this microscopic menace. We are all slowly getting used to this new normal.
After a long stressful day, as I hopped into my car, the near-empty parking lots and streets gave me a strange sense of loneliness. The thought of being trapped in a tunnel or navigating through a maze in an unknown land! Just then, I noticed the Daffodils, Tulips popping out with their colorful faces trying to tell me the brighter days are ahead! Life goes on... and we all will live to tell our grandchildren about the pandemic of 2020. 

The new social norm

The new social norm

When I was growing up in the 80's-90's friendship meant so much. Our lives revolved around our social circle. There was great excitement in making new friends. We even made pen pals through letter chains from far away cities. When emails, social media was a far-fetched thought, we managed to keep in touch with near and far ones through letters. The blue color folded inland letter carried every emotion from love, heartbreaks, marriage proposals to casual chitchats. Technology has revolutionized the way we communicate with each other. I'm not sure if it is good or bad.
Facebook, more than a decade ago, was the go-to social media from teens to seniors alike. Now we have Instagram, Snapchat, and whatnot. The kids unable to tolerate the postings of their parents quickly moved out of FB and found their hub on Instagram, Snapchat. FB branded its platform in terminologies like "like," "friends." In the FB world, the word "Friend" got a new meaning. He/She may be a person whom you have never met or set eyes on, like your sister-in-law's friend's son's ex-girlfriend! For many FB friend's lists grew in 100's to 1000's enough to make them believe that they can challenge Rajini in popularity. Moms and dads got carried away with the thought of sharing their glories with their so-called FB friends. Friendship also got a new measure in the FB world .... the number of likes! People found instant gratification in sharing their mundane moments that got the much-expected reaction in the number of likes. The privacy factor was quickly tossed into the trash bin. There is no limit to what people could post on FB.
Another breakthrough a few years back was WhatsApp. It was a dream come true to carry those international chitchats initially through text, then came audio and video calls that too all for free! Groups cropped up in WA from mommy's to alumni to professional groups. The life span varied from a few days to a few years.  The shortest one I was ever on lasted 5 days. Group dynamics change too, the admin who is the creator of the group might vanish into thin air, and the most active member might be the one who no one knows in real life. Members can be categorized as the incessant chatters, the attention mongers, the smart heads, the life-givers, the trouble makers, etc. Some people in WA are forever asleep, while a few are always in a meeting, while some roam around with dying cellphone battery all the time! Some manage to be silent spectators but still will not let go of the membership status. Some get their adrenaline rush by actively sharing their lives moments while others post controversial topics and get in trouble. Chat groups are supposed to mimic living room chitchats, but except that the person sitting next to you on your living room couch will most likely respond to you, but in WA chat rooms, there are no courtesy, decorum or even rules. People choose to ignore when they want to or actively choose to respond when it is convenient. The purpose/agenda of the group changes too, one group which was started for travel ended up being a political battleground with candidates running for election from a professional organization on each other' s throat to win the election.
We all live in a different era now, and it is required to embrace these societal changes. It keeps the community together on the surface, whether it strengthens the bonds is a million-dollar question. The happiness that a simple handwritten postcard brought is still missing in the technologically advanced instant messages delivered by our fancy gadgets.