“The best use of imagination is creativity. The worst use of imagination is anxiety.”

In times like these where the whole world is facing a pandemic its only human nature to get anxious and panic.

Along with the news about the spread of coronavirus we have also been seeing headlines stating that people are hoarding daily supplies which has become another problem because things like masks and sanitizers are emptying faster than they can be restocked and medical staff who need these supplies the most are not able to procure them. Most of the cities have gone into lockdown and the positive cases of coronavirus are increasing by a huge number every day. People are stuck at home and are constantly getting information related to the dreaded virus from all kinds of sources which has created a sense of fear and helplessness among them. This fear is causing panic which is resulting in problems in addition to the pandemic that we are already facing.

If we consider India as an example, when our Prime minister declared a lockdown people started panicking and crowded the markets to prepare for the next three weeks which was the opposite of what was intended. If they were informed well in advance that essential supplies would be available throughout this lockdown the situation might have been better.

It is not just misinformation about the availability of supplies but also other aspects of coronavirus that has caused panic among the public. World Health Organization (WHO) issued a statement saying that coronavirus does not spread through pets, but we still hear heartbreaking stories of owners abandoning their pets. This is due to the spread of incorrect information from unreliable sources (WhatsApp forwards) that spread fake news and create a sense of fear among the people. We should take a moment to appreciate the fact that media is doing a great job to keep people well informed about the situation and the preventions related to the same.

However, it is also very unfortunate to hear stories of medical staff being kicked out of their houses because they are treating people with COVID-19 and their landlords are scared that they would transmit the disease to them. These people should be educated more about the transmission of the disease and if things still get out of hand, the government should step in to ensure the safety of the medical staff. All around the world, scientists are working hard to develop a vaccine for COVID-19 and some doctors are also using repurposed drugs to treat patients. One such medicine known as Hydroxychloroquine, an anti- malarial drug, had to be taken off the market so that it is not misused by people because at this point people are ready to take any step to keep themselves safe. But these situations take time to settle and everyone should be patient and supportive of the work people are doing towards the welfare of others.

Even after showing the symptoms associated with COVID-19 some people are not taking the measures they should and not consulting doctors because there is a fear among people in relation to the isolation period and how they must spend time away from their family. Also, it has come to light that some people are not respecting the privacy of patients and making their information public, showcasing them as criminals. It must be understood that required measures should be taken by people and everyone should practice social distancing. Even after that if transmitted from one person to others, patients should not be targeted because that can affect their mental health.
In conclusion, the situation we are facing right now is very scary and it is bound to create panic among people, but we need to educate ourselves as well as people around us about the transmission and prevention of COVID-19 so that all can stay safe. People should abide by governmental guidelines as these measures are formulated after extensively discussing it with concerned authorities. Finally, before spreading around any new detail about COVID-19, it should be made sure that the source is authentic and not just false news which can create a situation of panic.

MYTH
Drinking tea/coffee/hot drinks heat kills corona virus.

FACT
There has been no clinical evidence suggesting that any kind of warm drink can cure COVID 19 infection. After the cells are infected with SARS-CoV2, hot water can neither wash the viral particles away from respiratory track nor kill the virus by entering the affected tissue.