Is Covid-19 Earth’s Detox?

Self-isolation gives us time to reflect on what really matters

As carbon dioxide emissions plummet and the progress of global warming slows down just a little…

There’s an alarming wake-up call happening across the globe even if we haven’t all cottoned on to the fact yet.

As we ponder humanity’s vulnerability to micro-organisms and react to halt their aggressive and virulent world takeover, now is the time to effect a sea change in the way our species is behaving.

Let’s pause a moment and reflect.

We thought we were invincible, that we could do great things and achieve whatever we wanted, go wherever we wanted. And then something stopped us dead in our tracks. Something so small the human eye couldn’t even see it coming.

Suddenly we can’t go anywhere, or do anything.

For some reason, or for no reason at all, this virus has reared its head now and decided to strike. This particular coronavirus causes Covid-19, which is ten times more lethal than seasonal influenza, or ‘flu’ virus.

Is it possible that this is Earth’s counter-measure to slow down the progress of the destruction of our planet? I’m no conspiracy theorist, but it does seem a timely, natural intervention.

We were overdue a pandemic in the same way that we are overdue a meteor strike, speaking in historic terms. Medics and scientists have been predicting this for years, as they could be pretty confident such a prediction would come true at some stage in the future.

These global events occur periodically, and can result in us hitting a bit of a philosophical reset button. Wars, famine and disaster bring people together to work for the greater good in ways that nothing else can. We need to capitalise on that fact and use the fallout from Covid-19 to promote a far bigger cause, healing and detoxing our planet.

Imagine if the virus were a far more aggressive one. Imagine if it evolved to destroy every host after a given period. The incubation period is when a person is shedding the virus to others and when the virus host becomes too unwell to do so, they have served their purpose and are therefore expendable.

Or equally likely, we could encounter a killer bacterial infection, genocidal in its intentions. Not so far-fetched, really. Most bacterial and viral infections are survivable but due to irresponsible farming and food production, and specifically the overuse of antibiotics in producing meat, we are seeing a rise in superbugs.

Ebola is being contained at the moment but its fatality rate is far higher than Covid-19, at around 50% of those who contract the illness.

Humanity has already survived numerous “plagues”. Our time on Earth has been littered with death and devastation, and not always by our own making.

The Black Death, or bubonic plague is a fascinating comparison to make with what we are experiencing as the coronavirus pandemic unfolds.

The plague doctors of the past are so much older than any living memory, but they are still a lesson in fighting death and disease by any possible means. They took “social distancing” to extreme levels, creating bizarre masks that allowed them to breathe and carry on working without being infected by their patients.

What should we be doing and thinking about doing, now that we are in the firm grip of a global pandemic?

Considering others is the main thing. All of the recommendations to self-isolate are as much for the benefit of others as they are for ourselves.

We all know people who are mired in complacency, determined not to let this virus spoil their lives but if we are slow in our reactions, the virus will overtake us.

This planet is precious, and we are its precious inhabitants, for now at least. Let’s look after one another and this Earth we inhabit.

If you have the following symptoms, you need to self-isolate now:

• high fever
• persistent dry cough (not pre-existing)
• shortness of breath

If you know anyone with these symptoms, avoid them like the plague!

Purchase only what you and your household needs for a 30-day lockdown.

There are numerous, useful lists on Medium. Here is a really good one put together by people who have been quarantined.

We have got ourselves through war, famine and disaster worse than we are dealing with right now. But it can’t be every man for himself. That model of human behaviour is unsustainable.

Divided we fall, but united we conquer.

We can and will get through this. How we decide to behave on the other side of this global disaster, is yet to be seen.

As an eternal optimist, I imagine a brighter future, one where everyone has had time to consider the impact of our selfish hedonism on our home planet and think about how we can change our ways.

Let’s take positive steps to reduce our harmful impact on the ecology and atmosphere of Earth and ultimately, on our own species.

If we can detox ourselves as individuals, and we all know we can, if we’ve ever actually tried it. I’m not talking about weird teas or juices, or pills and potions, but properly detoxifying ourselves by eating more healthily and doing some of the things we know we need to do to live longer and better lives.

There’s no quick fix. But small changes yield big results.

I’ve seen this in my own life since I started a meditation practice this year. Two 15-minute sessions per day have changed my life.

Mindset changes, health changes and planetary changes: they’re all down to us as individuals, and as communities, both local and global.

We can all contribute by flying less, shopping local, eschewing fast fashion in preference of lasting style, eating less junk food. You know the drill.

Little baby steps. To save our planet and humanity.

Are we worth it? The choice is yours.