Academic and Creative Writing Journal Vikram Karve: “Corona Phobia” – aka

CORONA PHOBIA – aka – COVID PHOBIA

Musings of a Veteran

VIKRAM KARVE

Corona Virus has changed my life forever.

(Corona Virus is also known as COVID19 – aka – COVID – I will use the terms interchangeably)

The aim of the tremendous hype by government and media (since February 2020) on “Corona Virus” (COVID) may have been intended to create awareness – but – it also had the unintended effect of creating an acute fear of getting infected by the contagious virus and contracting the terrible disease for which there is no cure – a terrible fear of Corona Virus (COVID) – that I call “Corona Phobia” – aka – “COVID Phobia”.

This scary media hype highlighting how the dreadful Corona Virus was spreading all over the country – and – the frequent showing of “scoreboards” of COVID cases and deaths – all this sensational hype by media worsened the fear – the “Corona Phobia”.

Then they announced “Lockdown” and locked us inside our houses – while continuing to bombard us with news of the dreaded disease.

As if this was not enough – the way various media portrayed news of COVID victims – and an impression was created – that if you were unlucky to catch the dreaded Corona Virus – you would be treated like a “criminal” and locked up in desolate Quarantine Centres – or confined in isolation in miserable COVID wards/hospitals.

From time to time – there were news items of COVID “Patients” escaping from COVID Wards or fleeing from Quarantine – which exacerbated your fears of COVID and worsened the “Corona Phobia”.

Of course – the continuous bombardment of information of how you could catch Corona Virus and Precautions to be taken – all this made you fearful of even stepping out of your house – or even touching anything.

Even going down to get milk, vegetables or essential items became an agonizing experience – lest there were people who were infected with Corona Virus – and – of course – there were many careless people who did not take precautions like maintaining social distance or wearing masks – who heightened the “COVID Phobia” in you.

Soon – you started suspected everyone of being infected by Corona Virus.

There were constant warnings that Senior Citizens were more vulnerable to COVID – so – they should avoid stepping out of the house – but – sadly – we are two senior citizens in our 60’s and one 87 year old super senior citizen cooped up in the house – so – I had no option but to step out of the house to buy essentials required for survival.

We have been “locked down” in our homes for over 4 months now – and – this isolated life – living in constant fear of COVID – in a state of “Corona Phobia” – this has taken a toll on our mental and physical health.

Prolonged Lockdown and “COVID Phobia” have changed my lifestyle forever.

I have not been able to do the things I like the most.

No Long Walks – No Eating Out – No Meeting Friends – No Socializing – No Shopping – No Movies – No Going Out at all – it is like “House Imprisonment”.

Due to “Corona Phobia” – I am scared to visit my dentist – and my broken tooth remains untreated.

One doesn’t know the facts but someone said that it was best to avoid dental treatment during the COVID Pandemic since “aerosols” carried the Corona Virus – and aerosols were generated during dental treatment.

I am scared to visit doctor’s clinics/hospitals for overdue medical check-ups and for treatment of Non-COVID ailments after hearing reports of some people catching “Corona Virus” during their visits to hospitals.

So – “COVID Phobia” makes me suffer in silence – rather than risk catching the dreaded Corona Virus if I visit the dental clinic or hospital OPD.

Our house-help (maid) stopped coming to work more than 4 months ago when the first few Corona Virus cases were discovered in Pune (imported from foreign countries) – and all of them went back to their villages where they felt safer because rural areas were Corona-Free at the point of time.

Now – due to “COVID Phobia” we may never hire a maid or domestic house-help again.

(Of course – one positive aspect of the Lockdown is that we have become “atma nirbhar” and we do all our housework ourselves)

Every day – we hear news of how the COVID Pandemic is rapidly spreading and going out of control.

We see the dreaded COVID coming closer and closer – and we hear of Corona Virus cases in our vicinity.

After their initial bravado and “josh” – and their publicity stunts and “gimmicks” like “Thali Banging”, “Lamp Lighting”, “Petal Showering” etc. – politicians seem to have given up hope – and left the citizens to fend for themselves.

Seemingly clueless about how to handle the COVID Pandemic – politicians appear to have stopped focusing on Corona Virus – and started diverting their attention to playing politics – hoping that COVID will go away on its own – and media too has started highlighting other issues.

But – the common citizen is worried about Corona Virus – which seems all encompassing – and is surrounding you day by day.

Yes – “Corona Phobia” is all pervasive – it has affected me – and – I am sure “COVID Phobia” has affected everyone (though some persons may remain in denial).

As I explained earlier – due to “Corona Phobia” and Lockdown – I am not able to do most of the things which were normal routine for me – since outdoor activities are restricted or prohibited.

Even if Lockdown is relaxed – “COVID Phobia” would deter me from doing those activities which were an essential part of my life before the Corona Virus entered the environment.

“Corona Phobia” (“COVID Phobia”) has caused a great deterioration in my quality of life.

“COVID Phobia” has transformed a gregarious extrovert like me into a social recluse – a “hikikomori”.

Yes – “Corona Phobia” has forced me to withdraw from society – all my outdoor activities and external relationships have been stopped – and I am forced to live a lonely life of confinement indoors – like a “hermit”.

And – this “Corona Phobia” will remain till “Corona Virus” is eradicated – or till a vaccine is found – and we are vaccinated to protect us from the dreaded “Corona Virus”.

Till then – I will have to live a dismal lifestyle – thanks to “COVID Phobia”.

Due to “Corona Phobia” – life may never be the same again.

____________________________

PS :

It may sound fatalistic and extreme despondency – but – a normally gregarious senior citizen – now cooped up in his house for months due to COVID Lockdown – and obviously overcome by “Corona Phobia” – he said: “It is better to die of COVID than live a miserable life like this in constant fear of “Corona Virus”…”

“Corona Phobia” – aka – “COVID Phobia” is a reality.

“Corona Phobia” (“COVID Phobia”) is a PTSD (Post Traumatic Stress Disorder) of the COVID Pandemic.

Everyone is focusing on alleviation of the physical health effects of Corona Virus – and the effects of the COVID Pandemic on the Economy.

But – Corona Virus (and COVID Pandemic) is going to have psychological effects as well – which will have a bearing on mental health – and cause mental stress to persons of all age groups and belonging of various sections of society.

VIKRAM KARVE

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