2020 - Covid 19 Pandemic

Year 2020 has been a disaster that no one initially accepted or can imagine. We all were hearing that coronavirus is spreading in China, within span of a month from January, 2020 it started effecting all the corners of the world.

The first case of Coronavirus Covid 19 was detected in China, in the city of Wuhan. There were different news coming up about its spread which actually occurred in December, 2019 itself. Initially the news was that it spread from 'a Chinese individual who ate snake and this virus spread in him and then from him to others. Then few news mentioned its from Bat. Few people are targeting that it can be a bio weapon spread across by China. So, till now, the source of coronavirus Covid-19 is not yet confirmed.

In January, 2020, My husband went Kakinada offshore from Kuala Lumpur and was about to return by end of Jan, but due to work at vessel his stay got extended. Here in KL, my parents were staying with me to accompany me with my first new born. Their return ticket to India was on 5th Feb as their Social visit visa for 3months was expiring. Mom wanted me to come along, so mine and my daughter flight tickets were booked along with them. Just a week before our flight, covid news caught fire. As 1 positive covid-19 case was found in USA in January end, and few of our family members staying in America asked us to be very very cautious while travelling, as Covid spreads from one person to another. That was the time, when we got to know the seriousness of this spread.

While we reached KL airport, we 3 put on the mask on. I was actually amazed to see the airport was almost empty, while entering hardly 7-8 people, though our Indian check-in que was full. My mom with my lil one always stayed away from the crowd and I and dad called them only when required. We all kept sanitizer handy with us and kept sanitizing our hands and whatever we touch like the passport, stroller handles, bag etc. and avoided touching things/ surfaces at the airport. As I booked wheelchair for my parents, so it was really very convenient, as in we went at the last and passed all the ques of immigration, check-in, security checks all quickly. We all were very concerned about the situation and so for my daughter. We tried keeping away from the crowd and especially from the Chinese people as till then it was mainly the Chinese who were confirmed of Covid 19 positive.

We reached India safely. By this time Covid-19 pandemic was not spread in India. In Delhi airport immigration, only few were wearing the Masks and it was all crowded. 

In the flight we were asked to fill a form which was related to - 

'If travelled from Wuhan in last 14 days?', 

'Where all we travelled in last 14days?' and 

'Our personal and flight details?'. 

Though in 1st week of Feb,2020 We heard first positive Covid 19 case found in Kerala, India and by then 170 people already died in China due to Covid-19. In the midst my husband came Delhi, and together by car we travelled to Jaipur. Slowly we started hearing more positive Covid cases in Kerala, then in Maharashtra and then other cities like Jaipur, Gujarat. While we were in Jaipur in Feb end, the first foreign tourist in Jaipur was detected positive with Covid 19 and was undergoing treatment in Hospital and luckily after 15 days of quarantine and treatment, they recovered.

By this time, many research came up about the Covid-19 coronavirus and WHO announced the below mentioned to reduce the risk of Infection:

• The incubation period for this virus is from 3-14days.
•  It's mainly effecting the elderly and people with low immune system.

Guidelines:

• People who have travelled should be in self-quarantine for 14days
• Frequently wash your hands properly for 20secs with soap and water or alcohol based sanitizer.
• Avoid touching the outside stuffs/ surface.
• Avoid close contact with anyone who have fever, cough and cold.
• Wear masks if you are ill.
• When coughing or sneezing cover mouth and nose with flexed elbow or tissue - throw tissue immediately and wash hands.

We had our return Kolkata- Kuala Lumpur flight on 12th March,2020. As we reached the Kolkata airport we saw on display screen that our Malindo flight- cancelled. We were bit thoughtful that how come, that we didn't get any notification and also at the airport none of the Malindo attendants were sitting, the counter was closed. We were confused what to do, shall we return from Kolkata to Deoghar, but then we noticed there's one another flight flying after an hour to malindo. So, we booked that on the spot and flied to Kuala Lumpur. 

On reaching KL home, we kept all the luggage at one side, sprayed disinfectant (Dettol) spray and all of us took shower and put all the cloths for wash. My hubby suggested me to be on self quarantine as we have travelled and not meet anyone for a week atleast. 

During Mid March, there was a huge gathering in a Mosque in Kuala Lumpur wherein 16,000 people attended it. And then just 2 days after got 190 positive covid-19 cases and since then (16th March,2020) everyday it had been 100+ 200+ cases in Malaysia, spreading whole across the country and Kuala Lumpur being the hot spot. To control the spread, Malaysian government imposed its first Locked down across the country from 18th - 31st March. During this phase:

•  All the Offices/ work were closed, should do work from home
•  Grocery stores will be open for limited time, though with limited customers and also standing 1mt apart.

There were so many news, awareness and jokes circulating in the market.

There were so many steps taken by every country to safeguard their population. WHO and few research labs started doing their research but their weren't any medicine and vaccine that came up in this year. 

Many people lost their near and dear ones. No-one knows when these all restrictions and this virus load will end. 

Their were so many online services that came up and grocery shops arranged ways to drop grocery to people doorsteps. Every country was undergoing lock downs based on the cases and phases.

Everyone were hoping for this Pandemic to end and for the best.