COVID-19: Assam Youth Quarantined in Italy Shares His Story with Inside Northeast

Axomson:

The Novel Corona Virus or COVID-19 has created a huge uproar and disturbance in the entire world. The pandemic that started in China’s Wuhan has made its way to Assam with the first positive patient being reported in Karimganj and four more reported recently. In its path of annihilation it has destroyed in its wake major developed nations of the world including Italy and the United States. Italy in particular is a tragic case in itself considering the very well established, sometimes considered the world’s best, health care system in the country being brought to its knees by the Great leveler, the COVID-19.

26 year old Romon Vaishnav from Assam’s Moran is pursuing his Masters in the Polytechnic University of Milan in Italy. While Assam has been under lockdown for 7 days now, Romon has been under lockdown for the last one month. While most of us are worried sick about the state registering its first five cases, Romon is in the harrowing position where multiple cases of the COVID-19 have been detected in the same apartment building as his. I know Romon from college. I reached out to him with the hopes of understanding the situation of a fellow Assamese in probably one of the most dangerous and risky places on earth right now. When I called him, I could hear sirens in the background. “You hear that?” he asked. “Ambulances! They must have worn out their tyres by now.” I asked him a few questions to build a perception of what things might become if Indians are not careful.

: When did you realize that it was serious? When did your worst fears come true?

: On the 13^th of February, the day before Valentine’s, I went on a long vacation. First I went to Geneva. I have a brother there. I stayed at his place for 3 days and went sight-seeing. Then we went to the city of Lyon in France. A sister of mine lives there with her family. I stayed there for a few days as well. Till then they had detected a couple of cases in France. I was aware of that but wasn’t very serious because I thought France is always bustling with tourists and two cases here is not a big deal. So I went on to Paris. I never had the habit of using hand sanitizers at all. It didn’t even occur to me at that time to use any such precautions. When I returned to Milan on 20^th of February, I got to know that the rate of infection in Italy had increased a lot. Even then I was not scared. But on 27^th or 28^th of Feb, I don’t remember exactly, the number increased by a thousand in a single day. That day we were a bit scared and for the first time we considered the possibility of a lockdown. Seventeen to forty two to a hundred and twelve to five hundred something to a thousand, the number increased exponentially. That day we were a little scared. After a few days it so happened that we started hearing ambulance sirens constantly. From morning till bed time that is all we could hear. Then we started getting really worried. In a few days deaths and cases started multiplying. Complete lockdown was announced on the 4^th of March and the day before that we went out shopping and it turned into a panic buying spree. That is when we were the most scared.

: What precautions are you taking now?

: We stay indoors as much as possible. If we have to go to the supermarket for supplies, we wear these plastic gloves we got. Of course the mask is always there. We also carry hand sanitizers. After returning, we remove our shoes outside the flat. After entering, we remove our clothes and immerse them in a tub of detergent and disinfectant. Later we throw away the water and wash the clothes in the washing machine. We keep washing our hands as much as possible, even when we are at home. We do not use sanitizers at home because hand wash soap is the best option. We only use sanitizers when we go out for essentials, when there is no option for washing hands. We also wash the shopping bag as soon as we return. We do not keep it indoors.

: How do you spend your time?

: It has been one month since I’ve been stuck at home. I have a few project reports to complete so I’m working on those. But due to obvious reasons I have not been able to do that with the amount of dedication or concentration that it demands. I have been distracted with thoughts about the situation back home. Other than that, Netflix is always there. I’ve started reading novels now. I received a few e-books. Right now I’m reading Mahim Bora’s ‘Kathanibari Ghat.’ My friend Parag shared it with me. Actually these are getting viral on WhatsApp these days which is a good thing that during these dark times some good work is being done. I sometimes sit at the balcony for fresh air. I talk to my family back home. I call twice a day so they don’t worry much. Other than that I keep busy on social media.

: Do you wish you were home?

: I had plans of going home in February, but later changed it to March instead. Now that I think of it, I should have left in Feb itself because it’s too late now. It’s April now and here the pandemic is at a massive scale. Secondly, this 9-12 hours journey will be too risky for me. If you count the layover it can be almost 15-16 hours. It is 50-60 kilometers to the Milan airport from my house. I’ll have to cover that using train or other public transports. So it’s a lot of risk and so I am not even leaving the house now. I feel safe inside the house till now. I don’t wish to take this risk by my own. If the Government makes some other arrangement, then it’s considerable. The only trouble is going out for supplies. Other than that the boredom is something else altogether. Moreover people my age can be asymptomatic even if they are infected. So I don’t wish to act as a carrier of the COVID-19 as well. If by chance I go and infect someone I will never be able to recover from that guilt.

: The Indian Govt's decision for a 21 day lockdown; how supportive are you of it?

: I strongly support the 21 day lockdown because I believe that in India testing has not been done as much as required. This is why not many cases  of the COVID-19 have been identified. So I still think the true numbers will be much more than the figures that we are seeing right now. A diverse and populated country like India is not at all ready to fight with this disease. I have seen the situation here. But I will like to add one thing. For the middle class, it won’t be a big problem. They will be able to get through this period one way or another I’m sure. The people in the villages, those who are self-sustained, they will surely get through the lockdown. But the migrant workers in the cities who earn daily wages, I hope the Government comes up with a proper plan for them. Also our tea garden workers need some special arrangements. Otherwise to be honest, even if they don’t die of COVID-19, they will succumb to hunger. If this is taken care of, I think everyone should be supportive of the 21 Day lockdown. Only then will we be able to break the chain of community transmission. If that is done, the infected can be treated separately and we shall overcome.

: Why do you think Italy was so severely affected?

: Italy has the highest footfall of tourists in the entire Europe. The infection began around the time of the Chinese New Year so the number of tourists was even higher. That’s why the tourist hot spots like Milan and Venice are worst affected by the COVID-19. Also, Italy has very good trade relations with China. Milan is a business hub. Bergamo, the city which is most affected in Italy is an industrial city. So that might be another reason. Moreover, no other European country had conducted as many tests as Italy. Because higher number of tests were conducted, more numbers were reflected. Older people are more prone to the virus. That is why most of the older population have been infected, which is unfortunate.

: Any message for people back home in Assam?

: I would suggest people to please follow the Government imposed lockdown. There will be many problems, I understand, but still. I will also request the Government to please take some measures for the poor, especially the daily wage earners. Otherwise these 21 days will be very tough for them.

Speaking to Romon made me realize that the people of Assam will have to be more resilient if they wish to the COVID-19. Tougher days are coming ahead and they are going to have to give up more than their evening walk and addas. Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma has been very prompt in action and has prepped for several new hospitals dedicated to the fight. But even still, people working in the COVID-19 health task force are not satisfied and are very fearful of the possibilities that could open up if community transmission begins in the state. May the people find the wisdom and patience required to break this chain.

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