Covid-19: Our Fragile Society

Written by Ben Kesp 

The world is in the grip of an unseen assailant that is powerfully eroding away our way of life and highlighting just our fragile we are as a society. No country, no matter its size, wealth or power is in a position to be immune. What this also highlights is just how easy it is to peel back a layer or two that holds our society together and it’s not very far from it descending into chaos. Whether it is fighting over toilet paper, and as funny as it might sound with so many jokes and images circulating social media, it is about the reaction we have as a race to not having everything in front of us which leads to panic buying and even aggression, with the most vulnerable in a society suffering. Think about what would happen if the supply chains were affected with no food being delivered to the supermarkets, the banks unable to distribute money, or hospitals unable to provide the healthcare staff, our reaction as a race would possibly result in a very rapid descent into disorder – the instinct of survival would surface. 

This is not about scaremongering but about highlighting what we as a society need to do and that is to take action, mobilise and defend ourselves and each other. Part of that is listening to what is being said by the experts. Can we say as a society that we are mature and civilised? Yes, of course, we can once the fine balance is kept in harmony. Remove a layer and ask the same question. 

As a race, we can be very selfish and this has been seen with our collective behaviour of late. It is easy to justify the need to have fun with “it won’t affect us” attitude, but it has affected us and it will affect us, especially the most vulnerable among us. Health services have put forward that 25% to 50% of populations possibly could become affected and taking the lowest possibility of 25%, 5% of that number may probably be in need of hospital treatment. You can work out the maths – that is a massive number of hospital beds! That number should bring reality to the moment of the intense pressure that could and is being put on health services, families and governments. 

The pressure is only being added to by what has been seen across the world of people taking holidays, attending restaurants and travelling to the beaches because governments have issued a temporary closure on facilities. The reaction of people and so-called “intelligent”, “mature” and “civilised” people are just incredible. You are not on holidays! Decisions have been taken and with difficulty, to close facilities in order to curb and slow the rate of the virus to avoid the mounting pressure being put on the health services. Again, we as a society need to step up and play our role. Are we unable to function as a race in times of need? Give some thought to the elderly and the at-risk in our communities that need to self isolate for the potential consequences of what Covid-19 might bring and their quality of life during this time. 

Howard Gardner, in his book “Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences," suggests that all people have different kinds of "intelligences", at different various levels. He has identified multiple types of intelligences. Well for many people, there is an intelligence that they are completely devoid of and that is simple COP ON! 

Be safe out there and listen to the health experts. A big acknowledgement of the great work being done by all in the health services and defence forces.