I have read remarkable accounts of soldiers who in the mind wrecking challenge of confinement in trenches separated by the dangerous space called no man’s land -WWI, climbed out of the safety of the trenches in the mindless bravado and suicidal rush, charging towards the trenches at the other side to certain death mere yards or feet from their own safe trenches, defying the calls and pleadings of comrades-in-arms. Why? As one grows older, with the realisation that sudden change and imposed social restrictions are not easy to be maintained, adjustments require an alternative ‘interest development’ to channel the mind into, so as to rise above and accept the necessary change for the greater good.

I have real-life experience with a now-deceased friend ‘For all Times’ who was in love with a ‘Pepsi bottle-shaped’ young woman, named Des, or Deb- there was one problem. I was at the time doing a graphic magazine on HIV-AIDS, and had seen this young woman at the clinic. I indicated to ‘TIMES’ that AIDS was in the air and that he should take care. He told me that a brethren had told him about the fact that this young woman was infected but love trumped reason and ‘For all Times’ was fatally hit by the ’Big Truck’ as HIV-AIDS is called. I doubt he died happily. The young lady outlived him but passed on too.

Today, we are enveloped by the Coronavirus pandemic, and two recent experiences have alerted me to the prevalence of the phenomenon of defiance bravado. I commute by public transportation, but avoid a category of minibuses I call ‘Lil Bway Bus’ because the music is too loud, and most times the choice of music is a simulation of sound rather than music, they also have overcrowding, and the tendency to travel too fast. I stopped this bus on Vlissengen Road, everyone in the bus at that point had on a mask. The next stop, they picked up six or seven young employees from a fast food outlet. They were all forced into the bus, and none wore a mask, they were- as we all were in our teens- full of chat, giggles, laughter and conversation. With my mask in my trench at the back of the bus I watched and remembered that at that point our COVID-19 numbers were at over 300. I decided to exit the bus at New Garden Street and walk the rest to Bourda Market while ecalling a National Geographic article I had read hours before, that I’ll share with readers. What we know about Airborne Coronavirus: by Victoria Jaggard, SCIENCE Executive Editor “ COVID-19 is a respiratory disease, and it travels in drops of saliva and mucus known as respiratory droplets. Someone speaks, sneezes, or sings, and virus-laden drops spew forth, landing on surfaces or in other people’s faces. That’s why we have the now-common practices of wearing masks, washing hands, and social distancing. But evidence is emerging that the coronavirus might also move about in much smaller droplets suspended in the air, which has scientists and public health experts debating whether to officially consider it airborne. If tiny drops carrying the virus can float, they might even build up inside confined spaces, including buses and classrooms. Last month, more than 200 scientists put out a call for additional health guidance based on the current evidence for airborne transmission, including improving ventilation in public buildings. Jose-Luis Jimenez at the University of Colorado, Boulder, even led the creation of a model that can help people figure out their relative risk from airborne exposure in offices, schools, public transit and other settings. While coronavirus may loaf in the air in select circumstances it is not in its airborne form as contagious as other airborne diseases such as measles. The bottom line however- masks should definitely be worn to avoid droplets, and potentially stuffy roams should be better ventilated.”
How do we in Guyana fix a wall around our climbing COVID-19 infections? Do fast food owners contribute by principle to supply masks to their employees or not, as revealed in the experience I observed? They should. I’ve seen lines of citizens waiting to purchase fast food, and this is a crucial area. Why did no member of this group of young employees have a mask on upon exiting work? Surely the health of workers, especially in the ‘fast food’ industry is of exceptional value, pertaining to the person to person service they present to the eager public and the food they offer. Somehow the force of the message and its importance beyond infection to bodily after-effects need to be expanded. The usage again, I emphasise, of Edutainment methods that have proven effective elsewhere continue to elude professionals here. Added drama and illustrated skits that will attract attention can aid in sensitising the easily distracted who will not read more than three or four paragraphs.