The Virus - Chapter 8

How a Virus Changed the World …. for the Better….

Chapter 8            The Lockdown

Dr. Jolly got back to New York to a very different reality. Due to the rising number of infections from the virus and ensuing severe respiratory problems, the hospitals were filling up quickly and the need for artificial respiration was creating a crisis as manufacturers were racing to build respirators. The death toll was also rising quickly. Mortuaries and cemeteries were trying to keep up with the demand.

The mayor of New York was about to announce restrictions in the city at a press conference at the city hall.

“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for joining our press conference. We are here to announce some restrictions to slow down the spread of the virus. As you know the World Health Organization has declared a pandemic. After consulting with our public health officials, we have decided that all public places including restaurants and most shops will be shut down as of tomorrow. Of course, all facilities that are considered as necessities such as food markets and health-related facilities will be operating as usual. Public transport system including the subway, buses and ferries will be shut down as of midnight tonight. The Taxi service, however, will be available. Wearing a mask in all public venues are mandatory and violators will be fined. We recommend CDC protocols for indoors including wearing masks, keeping distance, and washing hands regularly……….  Now I will take some questions.”

Dr. Jolly had just finished his breakfast and was watching the press conference at the city hall when he got a call from his daughter Jenna in India.

“Hi Dad, how are you doing?”

“Hi sweetheart, I am glad you called. I was anxiously waiting to hear from you.”

“Well, thanks dad, I have some bad news. the government just announced that the whole country will go into lockdown as of tonight. Everything is shut down already. There is police and military everywhere. So, I don’t know how I am going to get to the airport tomorrow for my flight.”

Dr. Jolly was in shock. He paused for a few seconds trying to get his thoughts together. “O my God, Jenna, I had thought that this might happen.”

“I am fine. Dad, no worries. Here at the meditation center everything is the same. We have everything that we need right here. We got a nice garden where we meditate and life goes on as usual. For now, nobody can come in or go out. So, we are isolated. I am not worried at all.”

“Well, that’s good to hear, Jenna. But this pandemic could get worse and then it’s a question of having access to medical facilities and medicine. Already, we are running out of respirators here in New York. So, you can imagine what could happen as we go forward. I still hope that you would be able to come home. Let me figure out what to do and I will get back to you.”

“Sure, dad, please don’t worry. Everything will be fine.”     

Dr. Jolly closed his eyes for a few seconds and held his head in disbelief. Somehow, he could see this coming. He checked his emails and the news. Sure enough, the news of the lockdown in India was all over the news. He checked his list of contacts in India at the ministry of health. In the stack of name cards, he found one for Dr. Singh a high-level official at the ministry of health that he had met on his last trip a year ago. He sent him an email right away explaining the situation and asking for his advice.

He then tied to contact the US Embassy in India and sent an email to the state department.

Dr. Jolly was determined to find a way to get his daughter home. He was thinking about who else he could contact when he got a text from his friend Dr. Maria Gutierrez. “Can you talk?”

“Sure.”

After a few minutes she called. “Hi Tony, when did you get back?”

“Hi Maria, late last night. How are you doing?”

“I am working from home today. It’s amazing how fast the picture is changing. A little tiny virus is turning the world upside down. How are you doing?”

“Well, not so good. I just had a call from my daughter Jenna in India. The country is going into lockdown, and she is stuck there. Her flight was for tomorrow. So, I don’t know. I am concerned that the situation there could get serious, and the health facilities will not be able to handle their super large population.”

“Wow, Tony. That’s unbelievable. So fast.”

“I know. I just contacted someone at the ministry of health that I met in my last trip and contacted the US embassy. Meanwhile Jenna is at a meditation center, and she seems to be happy and in good spirit. Not worried at all.”

“Tony, I have a feeling that everything will be ok. She will be able to come home. I am sure.”

“I agree. Maria, however, as a father, I just can’t help it. I’m worried about what could happen.”

“I totally understand and appreciate your care and love. You’re a great dad and a very special person.”

“Thanks Maria, That’s very kind of you. I feel the same way about you.”

“Would you like to come over for dinner? I will try to make something vegan.”

“Thanks, Maria, that sounds wonderful.”

“See you tonight.”

The news of the pandemic in various parts of the world kept coming in. Dr. Jolly was overwhelmed with thoughts and emotions. Why was this happening? How was the pandemic unfolding at such incredible intensity? Was there a lesson in all of this? What could we learn from this disruption? How could a virus have such an impact on us? We have been able to change the world, travel to the moon, invent incredible machines and build civilizations. But why we seem to be ultimately helpless when it comes to a virus that is not supposed to be alive? These and many more questions and thoughts were going through Dr. Jolly’s mind as he searched for solutions.

Meanwhile, more localities were going through restrictions and lockdowns as the number of infections kept rising. The news coming in from Shanghai, Paris, Los Angeles, Athens, Vancouver, Oslo, New Delhi, Buenos Aires, Nairobi, Rio De Janeiro, Tokyo, Cairo, Cape Town, Dubai, Tehran, Moscow, Rome, Mexico City, London …... and the list just kept growing.  

Dr. Jolly got a call from Dr. Kaviani at the CDC in Atlanta.

“Hi Tony, how are you? I saw the news of the lockdown in India.”

“Hi Vahid, I’m trying to see what I can do. Jenna says things are OK. But I am concerned about the long-term impact and as the virus continues to spread. I have never seen anything like this. “

“Well, is there anything I can do to help.” Dr. Kaviani asked.

“Not sure, I already contacted the people I know at the ministry of health and waiting for their response. I also sent an email to the US Embassy in New Delhi and state department in D.C.” Dr. Jolly explained.

“I’m going to contact some Baha’i Friends in India. Do you know exactly where she is?”

“The meditation center is in Mumbai which is on the west coast. I have pictures of the temple.”  Dr. Jolly explained.

“I will get back to you as soon as I hear something. Don’t worry, she will be fine. I’ll pray for her.”

“Thank you Vahid. I appreciate it.” Dr. Jolly responded.

All day Dr. Jolly was thinking about his daughter Jenna and hoping that somehow, she would be able to come home. At the same time, he was looking forward to talking to Dr. Gutierrez which by now they were calling each other Tony and Maria.

In the evening Tony headed to Maria’s home. On the way he stopped at the flower shop and got some red roses.

As the cab got close to her place, he was thinking about the fact that he really liked her. She seemed very balanced and easy to talk to. As a doctor, she was progressive and open to new ideas. On top of all that she cared about people and had deep appreciation of her roots in the mountains of Columbia among the Wayuu indigenous people.   

© 2022 Ramses Rashidi