From all accounts, Covid is here to stay till at least the middle of next year; we are now learning to live with the ‘new normal’, despite the rising cases. On 6 October, India reported a spike of 61,267 new Covid-19 cases and 884 deaths in 24 hours. Yet, life, livelihood and to an extent socialising have to go on. In this week’s column I’d like to focus on the last point — socialising and networking, but with masks on.
What is interesting is that though people are venturing out to meet friends and relatives, they are doing so keeping safeguards in place. The safest option seems to be dining in and limiting the evening to a one or two couples. Three couples make it a “rocking party” in the age of Covid. Interestingly, a friend was invited to a “surprise party” recently, but with the condition that all the guests should come with a Covid test in hand. This may sound safe on paper but as any doctor (or TV anchor) would tell you, a negative test is not a passport for good health. For one it takes a while for symptoms to manifest so no test can declare you Covid negative for sure unless you got tested a week back and have been in quarantine since. A test on the night before the party means zilch. You could still be infected and not know it for the next six days. So, rule out bringing a test to the party. And I would add, rule out the party too, for the time being.
If you are meeting, at least try and limit it to couples who work from home and have minimal exposure. The second mistake most make is to take the mask off because how do they have drinks and snacks (not to mention that long overdue gossip session) with the mask on? It’s risky but keep your distance and definitely keep that bottle of sanitiser out of your bag. As for the host, ensure that you sterilise all door handles and furniture surfaces after your guests leave.
Then comes the rules for dining out. Some people have ventured out, but in very limited groups. The restaurants too are limiting their seating to four and keep the tables at the right social distance apart, the waiters wear gloves and masks and it’s as safe as safe can be in today›s world. I was at a zoom call with my college friends recently, and this included friends from London, Singapore, Delhi, Bangalore and Goa.
It’s interesting to note that almost all were playing it safe except those from Goa. Maybe it’s also because the Covid numbers don’t stack as high as the ones from Delhi, Bangalore or London. Or maybe it has something to do with just being in Goa. However, some cautious holiday makers have ventured out, from Mussoorie to even Switzerland and Greece, just to take that much needed break. As the weather improves, it’s these short motorable holidays that are going to be de rigueur.
As for work, well the Bihar elections and the Hathras rape and murder horror have seen some boots on the ground. Both politicians and journalists are realising that while sanitised zoom calls are all very well, nothing replaces the colour and tempo of a report amidst the heat and dust. And with doctors and experts still not confirming the hope of a vaccine, one has to do the next best thing — resume life but with the mask on!