As we go further down the way, we are trying to pick up new things. When the covid talk first began towards the end of the last year, no one had any inkling that it will finally blow into a crisis of this magnitude. Though some early whistle blowers did try to alarm the global audience about the impending catastrophe. Finally, when it hit country after country and people started dying in numbers, the world woke up to the challenge and a slew of measures were announced for the people in the affected areas. Till the time it almost covered the entire globe. Then came the practice of social distancing and stringent measures like lockdown. In the early days of lockdown people thought that after some weeks we will not just flatten the curve, but conclusively walk past the problem. But that was not to happen. The period of lockdown extended by some weeks first, and then by some more weeks again. Now we are in a better position to understand what it could be in future any ideas of life returning to normal any time soon are laid to rest.
Governments, and the people , world over are thinking in terms of a long haul. It means long terms changes in the way institutions work, and people live lives have to be incorporated. For example the online mode of education in picking up, and the home delivery service of provisions and other essentials is spreading into the deeper pockets of population. In this situation the most crucial factor is the cooperation of people with the systems of governance, and also the compassionate dealing of people at the hands of government. To this end the higher officials and other delivery staff need to sensitise themselves towards the needs of the time. Also, people need to behave in ways that help solve problems, rather than compound them. It is going to be a test of our patience, endurance and wisdom. We can sail through this crisis safe and relatively unhurt only if we keep patience, and learn to live with the crisis.