The roulette, in gambling parlance, can be described as a revolving wheel that has equal demarcations with numbers and colors in each compartment. The aim is to spin the wheel, drop a small ball to see what number it will stop on. Players who place bets while the wheel spins do not know for sure what number the ball will sit on. It’s a game of chances. The dictionary also defines roulette as “something involving a high degree of chance and unpredictability.”
The invisible coronavirus operates similarly. As it blows across the world and as we step out daily in pursuit of subsistence, no one knows for certain who will get affected and become symptomatic. And even with those who become symptomatic and get admitted into a hospital, no one is guaranteed an escape. The virus is no respecter of age, sex, societal status or faith. We are all vulnerable. Different governments have attempted to contain it’s spread but have been unsuccessful to a large extent. In countries with some semblance of control in the past, the disease is resurgent.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there have been 14,765,256 confirmed cases of COVID-19, including 612,054 deaths world-wide as of July 22, 2020. The cases in the United States, in particular, keep surging. On the same date, the WHO reports there have been 3,805,524 confirmed cases of COVID-19, with 140,437 deaths since January 2020. These figures are distressing, to say the least, and if this is not frightening enough to deter certain behavioral patterns, then I wonder what will be.
As devastating as the virus has been, there are still millions of people out there taking chances with their lives out of disbelief or sheer carelessness. There have been reports of people deliberately flouting social distancing regulations to the extent that some are in defiance to instructions that are meant to minimize the spread. Unfortunately, this attitude will keep the virus around longer and put the most vulnerable population in harm’s way.
As Christians, we are meant to be obedient to rules and regulations of the land. Proverbs 11:14 says, “Where there is no guidance, a people fall, but in an abundance of counselors, there is safety.” Counsel, as rightly pointed out, comes from different sources. It comes from governments, parents, teachers, preachers, the scriptures and several other avenues. Concerning the pandemic, in particular, the Center for Disease Control and Preparedness (CDC) is one of such counselors. Outlined below are steps it suggests we take to protect ourselves and others.
Wash your hands often. Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds, especially after you have been in a public place, or after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.
Avoid close contact. (a) Inside your home: Avoid close contact with people who are sick. If possible, maintain 6 feet between the person who is sick and other household members. (b) Outside your home: Put 6 feet of distance between yourself and people who don’t live in your household.
Cover your mouth and nose with a cloth face cover when around others. You could spread COVID-19 to others even if you do not feel sick. The cloth face cover is meant to protect other people in case you are infected. Everyone should wear a cloth face cover in public settings and when around people who don’t live in your household, especially when other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
Cover coughs and sneezes. Always cover your mouth and nose with a tissue when you cough or sneeze or use the inside of your elbow and do not spit.
Clean and disinfect. Clean and disinfect frequently touched surfaces daily. This includes tables, doorknobs, light switches, countertops, handles, desks, phones, keyboards, toilets, faucets, and sinks.
Monitor Your Health Daily. Be alert for symptoms. Watch for fever, cough, shortness of breath, or other symptoms of COVID-19. This is especially important if you are running essential errands, going into the office or workplace, and in settings where it may be difficult to keep a physical distance of 6 feet.
These steps, along with others pertaining to good nutritional practice and boosting immune systems, are the least we can do. In areas beyond our control, we rest assured that God will fill in the gap.
From us at ChurchPad, we share in the grief that COVID-19 has brought upon millions of people globally. We offer our prayers to those who have lost loved ones. We also sympathize with those going through one challenge or the other as a result of the pandemic.
Let’s be mindful that there is no gain; neither is there a reward for betting lives on the ‘virus roulette.’ It almost always leads to fatality. However, when we play our part by adhering to wise counsel, we will outlive the scourge and come out better and stronger.
