What Is Quarantine and what are we supposed to do?
IMTIYAZ AHMAD SHAH
We have seen Pandemics after
every 100 years and that too followed by terrible destruction to mankind. As we
are in 2020, but still Pandemics torture us despite much advancement in technology
and health care fields. We are still not able to resurface the causes and
reasons why such spine-chilling pandemics raid us and bring our will to zero; if
we talk about the present Pandemic ‘COVID-19’ that shook the whole world. The epicenter
as we all know is ‘Wuhan’ the trading part of China. COVID-19 claimed thousands
of lives in almost every part of the world and the reason is unpreparedness and
carelessness. China is recovering well, but other countries like India, South
Africa are about to face the wrath of COVID-19.
So, in such panic circumstances
we have been told to stay home in Isolation or Self-Quarantine. Now, what is
Quarantine? It seems strange to us! Well, when the pandemics or a sudden
communicable disease hits any nation then the concept is pretty clear to us. A nation
in such miserable circumstances without any ready vaccines or medicines for the
disease might be in compulsion or need to take steps or provide preventive
measures in order to stop the spread of contagious disease and one among them
is ‘Quarantine’. Quarantine means complete confinement or contraction on the
movement of people or goods in order to prevent the spread or propagation of
disease. In other words, we can say, Quarantine means Isolation where people
are restricted to not indulge in human assemblage, religious gatherings, public
places, public transport etc. it symbolizes that a person cannot even step out
from his/her room and he/she is supposed to equip him/herself with the protective
gears to stop the communication or chain. In simplest words, it is a kind of ‘Lock-down’.
In such situations, we cannot travel to anywhere; we cannot attend religious gatherings;
we cannot shake hands or share hugs and kisses; we cannot stay unhygienic as
such diseases are much associated with unhygienic conditions. Quarantine helps
us to protect ourselves from such Pandemics that are contagious in nature and
can transmit to the number of population unannounced. So, this type of
Isolation can defeat any pandemic disaster. The only thing we need is to stay
at home and follow the WHO guidelines carefully. As the countries with less advancement
in health care field and those countries that don’t have any friendly support
from other neighboring or distant nations are at stake or we can say their
economy will be down to zero if they don’t go for ‘Self-Quarantine’. Breaking
chains means, breaking the unbreakable unity. So, ‘Quarantine’ or ‘Lock-down’ or
‘Isolation’ is the only way to stop the spread as there isn’t any other way to
cope up the outbreak until the vaccines are ready and available in the market. Every
citizen should prefer to choose ‘Quarantine’ over ‘Ventilator and death’. We are
supposed to follow all rules and regulations provided through social media
platforms, TV programs, health ministry etc. and we should not travel unnecessarily
without any emergency.
Stay Home; Stay Safe!