I think we can all agree on that the year of 2020 will be remembered in many different ways. Some might describe it as the year that we were not allowed to travel, some might say that it was insanely boring to work from home and some might say that it was a way to slow down the overly hectic society that is the western world, where time moves with the speed of light. Many of us think that we can finally exhale as the year of 2020 has come to an end. Just by scrolling through social media, only days after the New Year, the feeling is that all that happened in 2020 is forgiven and forgotten. I mean soon we'll all be vaccinated, how long can it still take before life goes back to normal? 2021 will be our year, won't it?
Photo by Varun Gaba on Unsplash
What many of us tend to forget is that the year 2020 should be remembered as the year of a global health crisis that brought with it immense suffering to many people in many parts of the world. According to the United Nations (UN), the spread of the Corona virus disease is not only a health crisis, it is a human, economic and social crisis. The Corona virus, which has been classified as a pandemic by the World Health Organization (WHO), affects all population segments. It doesn't have a target group. However, the true colours of the virus become clear in the more vulnerable segments such as the elderly, people living in poverty, people without a home and refugees on the move. Furthermore, the aftermath of the economic crisis e.g., the heartbreaking unemployment rate and a drastic slow down of the economy, will leave scars for years to come.
This blog post is not written to remind you of what the consequences of the pandemic are or what is still to come. This blog post is written to remind everyone of how we can help the ones who, due to various circumstances, are in a higher risk group than us. Therefore, I have listed a couple of action points to be carried out by anyone with the possibility. You can think of it as adding a couple of New Year's resolutions to your list, or making your first ones. It's not too late.
Here are a couple of suggestions for sustainable New Year's resolutions:
Wash your hands and keep a safe distance! I'm sure you get these reminders everywhere you go, but it is essential to do your everything to prevent yourself from getting infected. Make sure you take care of your own health and avoid places and situations where you might get exposed to the virus. In case you are exposed, get tested.
Educate yourself and your community! Continuously update yourself and your surroundings with verified information. Check and share your sources!
Volunteer in your community! Help people in the higher risk groups by e.g., running errands or phoning them for a check up. These small interactions may make someones day!
Donate to reliable charities, each contribution counts. For example: the COVID-19 response fund by the WHO
Use your voice to advocate for how people around you can help in this difficult time. Share your tips on how you are coping during the pandemic, speak up about what you are doing to help and, remind people if you see them deviate from recommended health measures.
Same action points are given by the UN and can be found here.