THE CHALLENGE OF SOCIAL DISTANCING AND SURVIVAL IN THE FIGHT AGAINST CORONA VIRUS.

When in 1820, the British Poet JOHN KEATS was quarantined for ten days on bay of Napels, the typhus outbreak was very dreadful. He is always remembered for his poem ODE TO A NIGHTINGALE.

Today in 2020, the global threat to the survival of human race world over witness an unprecedented death toll from Corona Virus attack on most powerful countries, super powers, economies with technological sophistication as well as the smaller and third world developing Countries. From the city of Wuhan in China in December 2019, the epidemic is now world over killing thousands of people.

The Corona Virus aka COVID19 shakedown caused untold smackdown with government lockdown. Nigeria is no exception with Rivers State having an index case.

However, Governments world over have ensured the safety of her Citizens, provided palliatives that ensured total compliance with complete Lockdown and Stay at Home. Countries like France, Germany among others evacuated their citizens back home. Thats the essence of proactive governance in the discharge of duties and protection of the sacred Rules of SOCIAL CONTRACT!

Today in Nigeria, the enforcement OF SOCIAL DISTANCING, STAY HOME and the quest to SURVIVE while fighting against CORONA VIRUS is mostly the challenge of the POPULARIS (Peasants & Common People) who don't have means of survival how much more create FOOD BANK at home.

Today in Rivers State, it is undoubtedly correct to say that despite Government directives, Some make shift Markets have continued in some places because of the need for survival. Petty traders whose survival depends on what they sell daily are selling what the common man couldn't afford to stuck prior to the lockdown. Ironically and funny as it seemed, some of those who are to enforce the market closures are seeing buying as well.

A proactive system of governance ought to plan emergency palliative measures since the Corona Virus broke out in December 2019.
While Governmental sensitization and extreme measures including Lockdown to checkmate the spread of COVID19 is applauded, the People are stalked between daring CORONA VIRUS on the Streets or die of "CORONA HUNGER" at Home.

The RES PUBLICA here remains the common man. Its on record that citizens were arrested in some parts of Port Harcourt and remanded under inhuman conditions for violating the dusk to down curfew now relaxed. Thanks to the Courts for granting them bail. The arrests is condemned as the use of force will be counter productive.

Consequently, these are my humble suggestions:

1. I urge the Federal, State Government and Local Governments to synergies and provide palliatives for the common people to enable them stay at home.

2. Let every citizen be made to wear a face mask weighing deadly mode of CoVID19 Transmission. With this, those selling in make shift markets must have taking a protective step.

3. Let Government allow strategic Food markets within defined time and ensure the use of Masks, gloves and hand sanitizers.

4. Let Government, Spirited individuals and Corporate organizations contribute and provide palliative supports as Government alone can't achieve these tasks.

I enjoin every citizen to take every precautionary measure and stay safe. My prayer this period is for all to sing like CAESAR when he conquered Egypt: VENI VIDI VECI.


Teddy Benson

The way you start a topic matters, i spent more time look at the puppy than reading your content. The capslock is a turn off