The Coronavirus is Akin to any World War That we will see in our Lifetime and our Doctors are the Soldiers Leading the Fight

178,281 deaths, 2,571,660 infections at the time of writing, all because of a deadly disease caused by the tiny novel coronavirus that has somehow managed to change the basic perception of our daily life for the foreseeable future. 

The ‘invisible enemy’ as Donald Trump likes to call it, has not only waged a war with every country in the world, it has affected each and every citizen on the planet at a very basic level. Our relationship with the outside world, with each other, the very concept of wholeheartedly interacting with one another on a physical level has been reoriented probably for years to come. 

The last time something close to this had happened when people couldn’t step out of their houses, governments had shut down, shops, businesses, social gatherings, and markets all closed down and millions out of work and billions of people banding together to work towards a collectible goal, it was probably after a certain nation had invaded a neighboring one sparking what would later be known as the World War 2. 

Guess what, this is exactly what is happening right now in front of us. There is a section of people who are staying at home and keeping themselves safe and then there is another section of people who are heading out to the front lines, working round the clock, showcasing tremendous valor and bravery in the face of death, fighting back against the enemy so that people behind them can stay safe. 

 

 

These trenches today are known as hospitals, the soldiers up front are called doctors, the arms and ammunition that they are fighting with are the experimental drugs and PPE’s that are keeping them safe. There are no bombs falling from the sky or tanks rolling on the streets, there never will be. There will only be outbreaks, infected hotspots, sanitization drives, containment and quarantine of exposed citizens to the coronavirus. 

Rich and powerful allied nations are sending the most affected ones, millions of dollars worth of equipment and protective gear that they are facing a shortage of, smaller countries like Cuba, Albania or even Somalia are sending their own soldiers to aid these nations in this time of their crisis. These soldiers come wearing masks, dressed in white gowns and with a Dr’s tag before their names all to push back in the fight against a common enemy and save as many lives as they can. 

 

 

In cities around the world, the army is being deployed to facilitate the break in the supply chain that has happened due to the lockdown, military convoys are heading out carrying the dead bodies of fallen citizens from one city to another because of a shortage in burial space in some. 

In India express trains are being converted to isolation wards and ICUs for COVID-19 patients. In New York City, makeshift field hospitals are being set-up inside Central Park as area hospitals reach capacity. Navy ships are being deployed to act as standing 1000 bed hospitals for routine patients other than the COVID-19 ones. If this is not a global war-like scenario, what is? 

Today the biggest manufacturers have stopped routine production and have started working overtime on producing munition that soldiers on the frontlines are needing and fast. That’s not machine guns or airplane parts or submarine guns, its low-cost ventilators, masks, sanitizers and protective gowns that need production fast and in volume. This is our version of munition, this is our version of wartime production that we need in our fight against the coronavirus.

As George Mason University Economist Tyler Cowen puts it : 

“I think there’s a good chance…that this becomes like this generation’s World War II,” 

he tells Reason,

“A totally formative event that shapes how people see the world.”

 

The world, or how we see that has undoubtedly changed in so many possible ways that we cannot yet comprehend until we step out and see for ourselves. 

From being forced to embrace virtual reality, to watching live concerts online, spending Ramadan without visiting the mosque and even watching the distributed work revolution finally taking place, the world that we will be stepping out to when all these ends will never truly be the same. 

And that’s to be expected, once the genie comes out, there’s no putting him back. What must be ensured however is that due respect and recognition are given to those bearing the brunt of this and standing tall on the front lines putting their own lives at risk every day in the fight against the coronavirus. 

 

 

Any country including our own has a rich tradition of honoring its brave hearts who are willing to make the supreme sacrifice to save the lives of others and that is exactly what every single health worker working in any capacity is doing at the moment. These people deserve to be recognized as the warriors on the front lines, their fallen comrades should be recognized as martyrs and be accorded a proper state funeral as granted to any soldier of the nation who has made the ultimate sacrifice in service to his country. 

In an ideal world instead of having Oscars. Grammys, Emmys and celebrity award shows that mean nothing, we should have doctors, nurses, ER attendants, health care professionals, and other front line workers walking on red carpets and being accorded the recognition, celebration, stardom, and fame that they undoubtedly deserve.