Lockdown Journal - Day 28

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Thursday, Day 28:

I love songs and poetry about the moon. Unfortunately, the novel coronavirus took centre stage when a supermoon beamed beautifully at us a few weeks ago. The moon has been at the centre of controversy when Buzz Aldrin and Neil Armstrong set foot on it in 1969. Many people thought that moon landing was fake. One thing that I know for sure is that the moon is made of cheese. There are thousands of conspiracy theories about it on the internet. According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, a conspiracy theory is, “a theory that explains an event or set of circumstances as the result of a secret plot by usually powerful conspirators.”

Over the past couple weeks, the strangeness of this lockdown life has seeped into every nook and cranny of our daily lives, exposing, among other things, the conspiracy theories. Social media has made it possible for people to say whatever they like and think. It’s a conspiracy theorist’s heaven. There are countless conspiracy theories flying around about the novel coronavirus. One popular conspiracy theory is that COVID-19 is a bioweapon created in a lab in China. I guess people begin to believe these theories, especially when professionals in the field make those claims.

COVID-19 has created a perfect storm for conspiracy theorists. I've observed on social media platforms just how much South Africans love conspiracy theories. Okay, some of it is humour, but the rest are serious claims. We all feel vulnerable because this pandemic and the effects of it on our daily lives are almost depressing. This could also be a reason why spreading conspiracy theories gives some people more of a feeling of control. It should stop because it’s a false sense of control. It causes more harm than anything during this trying time.

Claims that the government is using the lockdown restrictions to control its citizens is dangerous and laughable. The aim of these allegations is to ultimately force the government to lift the lockdown. Fighting a deadly virus like COVID-19 is not that simple. It is unrealistic to expect a normal life to return after the lockdown has been lifted even partially. Throughout the world, people are coming together to do what they can to fight the pandemic that has changed life as we know it. Let us fight this common enemy together by staying home.

The impact of COVID-19 on our psyche is severe. During the lockdown, many women, men and children are stuck at home with their abusers. The number of cases reported since the beginning of the lockdown is scary. The right thing to do is to help someone who needs our help. Call the Stop Gender-Based Violence Helpline on 0800 150 150.

#StayAtHome
#SaferTogether
#SocialDistancing
#LockdownJournal
#LockdownSouthAfrica
#COVID19

LOCKDOWN JOURNAL - DAY 11

My Lockdown Journal 2020 – Monday, Day 11:

Today is day 11 of #LockdownSA2020. Every day feels like a carbon copy of the one before. I’m living out my own ‘Groundhog Day’. It gets more difficult by the day to keep myself productive, focused, and creative. How much longer do we have to live like this? The experts are not sure. It’s not the most satisfying answer, but we must remain resilient.

We live in a strange time; the world has never been so clean in terms of mass personal hygiene. Unnecessary contact with external objects or other people has become an unofficial law. For every problem, there’s a solution, but that solution, unfortunately, brings another problem. The social distancing rule is an example thereof. It is aimed at flattening the curve and stopping the coronavirus in its tracks, but people are still out gallivanting and ignoring the lockdown regulations. It’s a global problem; the UK police had to chase people from parks and beaches while the same is happening in France, the US and African countries.

The message to stay home in order to save lives is obviously not getting through. A bride and groom, including their wedding guests, and pastor were arrested over the weekend in KwaZulu-Natal. The one moment it was ‘bride and groom’ and it quickly turned into ‘doom and gloom’.
The coronavirus has left nothing untouched in its wake. For all its peril, it has helped bring people together. Families are connecting more frequently as seen from video clips on social media platforms. There are a lot of unanswered questions coming from our children and loved ones, but one thing I know for sure is that everything will be okay.

During lockdown fear and despair have been nipping at our heels. It made some people turn to religion; others to conspiracy theories, or tackling new hobbies. During the lockdown period, there will be moments that we feel anxiety threatening to overwhelm us. At that moment, I always feel encouraged by the Bible scripture in Psalm 35:15 (NIV) that says, “My times are in your hands; deliver me from the hands of my enemies, from those who pursue me.” Let’s stay focused and allow ourselves the time to rest well and use the opportunity to do some introspection (stock-taking).

#LockdownJournal
#COVID19SouthAfrica
#21DayLockdownSA