IN THE NAME OF COVID!
One way or another, all of us have been affected by COVID-19. Stay-at-home orders, closed businesses, empty school classrooms, millions of workers fired, a virus that has spread around the world, making 258 million people sick and killing more than 5 million as of today.
In the name of COVID, we have been under several precautionary measures. Some of them applauded; others criticized, accused of destroying liberties and rights. and I hope that two of them, very basic ones, stay forever: washing hands and covering our mouths when we sneeze. Although it sounds like a joke, a lot of people didn't have these important habits pre-pandemic.
This sanitary crisis has been a justification for different actions. For example, trying to show that someone is careful instead of impolite, or trying to convey that they are protective instead of being Machiavellian planning how to save money or multiply their earnings.
In the name of covid, some businesses or offices still do not allow their clients or visitors to use the restrooms. They could argue that the virus stays on surfaces, or when we flush the toilet, we create an aerosol cloud, and somebody can be infected. But come on, experts agree that the risk is minimal. We should remember to wash our hands and close the lid of the toilet (if there is one) before flushing, and we can protect ourselves by wearing a mask. This measure sounds more like wanting to save money and cleaning time, while clients and visitors could end up in an emergency situation.
In the name of COVID, a lot of companies have supposedly fired or laid off personnel whom they otherwise couldn't.
The International Labor Organization (ILO) says that 114 million lost their jobs or working hours during the first year of the pandemic. At the same token, reports of lawsuits have increased, alleging that some companies have taken advantage of the situation, reduced salaries, working hours of the personnel, or obliged some employees to take an earlier retirement based on their age, gender, race, or salary.
In the name of COVID, some businesses have increased the prices of articles and services before we had shortage or distribution problems. Basically, like the sentence a good friend shared with me: "while the majority cry, others fill their pockets producing handkerchiefs. "
In the name of COVID, a lot of families haven't had reunions out of precaution, although the truth is they prefer to be far from their parents, in-laws, or embarrassing family members.
As a COVID-19 survivor, as dramatic as it sounds, I thank and applaud the preventative measures, the authorities' management of the crisis, to all medical personnel that has given everything throughout the pandemic, to people of all walks of life, and to an endless number of businesses that were up the mark. Nevertheless, some of the things implemented in the name of COVID generate suspicion.
What do you think?