Staying calm during the lockdown

The night of Monday, 23 March was a sleepless one for many. The announcement by President Cyril Ramaphosa that the country would officially be going into lockdown from midnight on Thursday, 26 March sparked panic in many residents, but the best thing to do is stay calm and broaden your perspective as the lockdown is a very good thing.

The country-wide lockdown is set to last 21 days, during which people will be prohibited from leaving their homes for anything other than food, medical care and supplies, or to conduct a service deemed essential.

Everyone has heard the proverbial saying, “Prevention is better than cure”. The decision made by Ramaphosa, the various stakeholders and political parties to initiate a shutdown is the best form of prevention there is.

Coronavirus is spreading rapidly, and statistics show that drastic measures need to be taken in order to slow it down and stop it from worsening. While at this stage South Africa’s Covid-19 statistics are far lower than those of other high-risk countries, that is no reason to say they won’t increase. By asking residents to stay in their homes unless they are seeking an essential service, the spread of the virus is contained, and citizens are kept safe.

The City of Johannesburg in particular is a very densely populated area with several informal settlements, which are high-risk areas. In Ramaphosa’s speech, he mentioned that pre-existing conditions such as TB and HIV, which are prevalent throughout the country, put a lot of people at risk, especially in the informal settlements. So, attempting to contain the virus is the best way to ensure maximum safety.

It is a lot better to attempt to contain the virus now than waiting until the number of people affected grows beyond control. Remaining calm is a must; residents should not panic unnecessarily. Ward 83 councillor, Florence Roberts, has provided the following helpful tips:

• Do not panic-buy – Grocery stores and pharmacies will be open for people to purchase food and other necessities such as hygiene products. Ensure you have enough food and chronic medication to last you a week or so, so you don’t need to leave the house every day, but do not stockpile unnecessarily. By stockpiling, you are preventing others who do not have the money or space to do so from getting food, toiletries, and other necessities. Be considerate.

• If possible, fill your prescriptions before the lockdown – Filling your prescriptions for chronic medications or other medications is a necessity, and you will be able to do this during the lockdown. However, to limit social interaction and the amount of time spent outside of your home, fill your prescription before the lockdown begins, if possible, .

• Appoint a leader – In homes with more than one person, appoint someone who will be doing the grocery trips and medication collections. Only one person is needed to do this, the whole family does not need to leave the house in order to buy groceries.

• Do not spread fake news – Do not participate in spreading fake news and unnecessary panic, it is of no help to anyone in this already stressful time. Remember, spreading fake news can result in imprisonment, or a fine.

• Check your own, as well as your family’s temperature and health conditions regularly – Keep an eye on your family’s health, as well as your own. If you are concerned about the symptoms you are exhibiting, or that someone in your home could be showing, call the Covid-19 hotline on 0800 029 999.

Ultimately, the lockdown is the most effective way to try and stop the rapid spread of the virus. We need to remember that the shutdown is not permanent – this is not the apocalypse, it is only temporary. This is a precautionary measure, rightly put in place to keep as many people safe as possible. It will not last forever, and 21 days is not a long time if you consider the benefits those three weeks will bring.