A Disciplined “Normalized” Living Through COVID-19 Pandemic – A Reflection by Fr. Alexander J. Kurien

Rev. Fr. Alexander J. Kurien

OCP News Service – Fr. Alexander J. Kurien – 28/5/2020

While the COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the world, I pray that you are staying safe and protecting your family.  Experts say Coronavirus will likely remain for decades to come, circulating among the world’s population and becoming “endemic” — like measles, HIV, and chickenpox. This virus is here to stay.  The question is, how do we live smart with it safely? I was devastated watching the crowd for Memorial Day outing/celebrations.

“PLANNING REOPENING OF RELIGIOUS ESTABLISHMENTS – POST COVID-19” by Fr. Alexander J. Kurien

If you decide to ignore common sense guidance and gets in the destructive path of Coronavirus, here are the latest unusual scary symptoms you will face leading you to an early death: Inflamed brains, toe rashes, and strokes – ranging from hundreds of tiny blood clots to strokes in young people.  COVID-19 seems to inflict serious damage inside your body in many different ways leading to multiple organ failure.  The increasing concern is that the “silent spreaders” standing/sitting next to you in churches, temples, mosques, offices, public transportation, walking, and public gatherings (asymptomatic transmission) are playing a large role in the transmission of COVID-19, which is becoming the greatest public health threat of the century.  If you are still planning to explore and leave your homes, these are 8 ways to go out and stay safe during this coronavirus pandemic:

(1) Stick to the outdoors — Experts consistently gave one piece of advice for people leaving their homes – If you can do something outdoors instead of crowding indoors, you should do it outdoors.

(2) Follow good hygiene practices — You have probably heard it a million times already, but it is worth repeating.  Wash your hands frequently, and don’t touch your face. If you are going to frequently venture far outside your home, that advice is especially pertinent.

(3) Wear a mask — After some mixed messaging from federal officials early on in the Covid-19 outbreak, there is widespread consensus that people should wear masks when they go out — a surgical or medical mask if they have one, a cloth one if they don’t.

(4) Stay away from crowded settings — One of the common pieces of advice throughout this pandemic has been to keep 6 feet or more away from people you don’t live with, summarized by the catchy slogan “6 feet distance determines our existence.” The closer you are to someone, the likelier they are to shed their coronavirus all over you, and vice versa.

(5) Avoid shared surfaces — If the coronavirus spreads when people pick up virus-containing droplets from different surfaces, one way to minimize that risk is by trying to avoid shared surfaces as much as possible.

(6) Space out trips outside the home as much as possible — Whether you are leaving your home because you have to for food or work, or you are going out because you can’t stand the sight of your apartment or home anymore, one way to minimize risk is to space out all your trips.

(7) Create a “closed circle” with specific friends or family — Especially if you are single and living alone, these can be pretty lonely days. One solution that some experts have put out there is creating a “closed circle” with a friend or family member, in which two people or a group agree to hang out in person but avoid contact with everyone else.

(8) If you are in an especially at-risk group (I am on this group), be extra careful — Some people are more vulnerable to the coronavirus. Certain chronic conditions, including asthma, diabetes, liver disease, and obesity, appear to heighten the risk of complications and death due to Covid-19. Those who are older, especially 65 and up, are at higher risk too.

Please DO NOT take unnecessary risks and become part of the statistics.  U.S. death toll is expected to reach 150,000 by the end of August. I know many don’t want to hear or face reality. Your church, religion, and faith will continue to be there. NO ONE can steal them from you! Don’t try to be a hero and become the latest victim.  Stay safe and alive.

Fr. Alexander J. Kurien is a Senior Priest of the Indian Orthodox Church. In addition to his commitment to the priesthood and his calling, he is a Senior Management Executive of the United States Government managing 9 policies and other major programs for the Administration. He serves in various senior management roles as Deputy Associate Director of the Office of Government-Wide Policy; Executive Director of the Federal Real Property Council; Member of U.S. Advisory Council on Human Trafficking; Member of the United States Inter-Agency Council of Homelessness; Member of the National Science and Technology Council (NSTC).

Source:
OCP News Service