‘When yuh don’t hear, yuh does feel’ is a saying that was often used to chastise me while growing up. Now that I am an adult who understands that flouting the COVID-19 guidelines puts the lives of scores of people at risk, this saying has taken a whole new meaning.

As per the gazetted COVID-19 guidelines, we have a curfew in place from 22:30hrs (10:30 PM) to 04:00hrs (4 AM) and there is a litany of restrictions on social gatherings, including at cinemas, funerals, clubs, inter alia. These guidelines — though tweaked now and then to suit the country’s response to the pandemic — were instituted since March, last year. Still, there is this seemingly pervasive sense of apathy towards taking the necessary precautions to protect ourselves and our loved ones from the grim effects of the pandemic.

I do not believe that we have thoroughly appreciated the severity of the COVID-19 pandemic and the impact it has. In the first six days of April alone, 13 deaths were recorded. It does not seem like a lot, but in the first year of COVID-19, we recorded just about 218 deaths. Beyond the health impact, the disruption caused in every sector of society — from schools to workplaces — is evident. Now, we are contending with a mutated form of the virus — the highly contagious P1 variant in Brazil, that, according to the country’s health experts, is currently wreaking havoc there. Even more incredulously is that this variant appears to be impacting many more younger persons now.

Infectious disease physician Dr. Rosana Richtman told the ABC News, “It’s very clear that the transmission is much, much higher. The age of the population that our patients are with the disease is, they are younger, they are younger with severe disease.”

Other international reports stated that the Brazilian health care system is on the brink of collapse, since most Intensive Care Units (ICUs) are at or near capacity, leaving many to suffer on waiting lists. Life-saving medication and oxygen supplies are running dangerously low; since last year, the country has recorded well over 300,000 deaths.

I make it a point of emphasising the Brazilian situation to illustrate that the grim effects of this pandemic are not occurring thousands of miles away, but right over in a country we share a porous border with. There is a very real possibility that this variant can spread to Guyana — if it has not already — and wreak further havoc.

Is it that we believe that COVID does not affect us or our loved ones? Is it that we do not care? Or, is it that only when we lose someone we love or the continuing pandemic forces workplaces to downsize again, will we understand the pandemic’s severity?

If we did appreciate the severity of the pandemic, these clandestine parties and gatherings would not be as popular and rampant as they are. Just last weekend — Easter weekend — a total of 140 persons were reportedly arrested after they were found in various bars and entertainment spots later than the 22:30hrs national curfew that has been instituted to help curb the spread of the novel coronavirus. On Easter Monday, a handful of videos surfaced, showing the sheer numbers of persons who flouted these guidelines and who voiced their displeasure in incomprehensible ways — like the partygoer claiming that he was “kidnapped by the army.”

The day after, a large number of persons were again arrested. The Guyana Police Force (GPF) had to barricade the seawall and national parks just so that persons would not be gathering in their numbers. Now, the act of flying kites and enjoying Easter picnics with family members are inherent, ‘social-distanced’ activities. Yet, they were prohibited because of how negligent we have been in adhering to the simple guidelines meant to keep us safe. This is the situation we are now confronted by.

While growing up, I also heard the saying “Stricter the government, wiser the population” quite often. Usually, that saying was accompanied by family members, friends or neighbours pleading for some leniency on my behalf, because my parents were strict. But nowadays that saying has found new meaning in the novel ways persons have been able to evade the COVID-19 guidelines. Some amount of opposition is expected, but the magnitude at which these guidelines are being flouted is incomprehensible to me. It appears as though we are simply a reckless and irresponsible bunch of people.

Now that the national enforcement efforts have been stepped up, it is up to each of us to recognise our responsibility. Wearing a mask, sanitising often, and avoiding gatherings are choices we can make to reduce the spread of the virus. We have to be intentional about our efforts to protect against COVID-19.

If you would like to discuss this column or any of my previous writings, please feel free to contact me via email: vish14ragobeer@gmail.com