TRAVEL WHILE CORONA IS NOT TRAVELLING

To begin with, here is the wiki link for timeline of Corona Virus Pandemic during Feb-2020 & Mar-2020.

While Covid-19 virus was making some inroads in India, I was out on the road. From last week of Jan-2020 to second week of March-2020 traveled to many a places, of course in India.

• 25th Jan - 4th Feb: Patna - New Delhi - Patna
• 7th Feb - 9th Feb: Patna - Gaya - Patna
• 22nd Feb - 23rd Feb: Patna - Raipur - Patna
• 7th Mar - 15th Mar - Patna - Gaya - Patna - Gaya - Patna

Patna - Gaya - Patna is my routine trip to hometown during long weekends, festivals or for any personal work, travel to New Delhi and Raipur was refreshing change. It was after long time that I was travelling outside the state - almost after two years. I was getting to meet new people and old friends. Little pleasures of life. And all this, which other wise seemed unrelated, was linked to the ongoing Corona crisis. No I did not get infected.

I was visiting New Delhi for a conference which had delegates from "CHINA" as well. Yes, read it correct. But at that point of time, the spread and scope of the corona virus had not created disproportionate fear in the minds. It was still being viewed like it would remain contained in China and there would be stray cases worldwide. World had lived successfully through SARS and EBOLA. Human confidence was border-lining arrogance and negligence. But, my parents were slightly concerned and they suggested to maintain distance from Chinese, in light of the corona virus outbreak there.

Participants of the conference belonged from 30 different countries and it lasted for 10 long days. Some of them were staying together, sharing rooms in a hotel. Most of them being diplomats, international students and professionals kept travelling across the world, more specifically Asia where the soon to be pandemic had started showing its true colors.

I interacted with some of the Chinese delegates, young university students from Fudan University, but found them to be rather reserved but I would rather blame it on myself, may be I was not that good at cross-cultural communication. However with another research scholar of Fudan University, a Nepalese gentlewoman, the conversation was easy and fluid. Cultural proximity, I guess. She told me about the kind of screening that is being done for outgoing patients at Airports of China and that in India, she just had to submit a declaration. Thermal Screening from hand held devices has that appeal that reassures one, isn't it. The program however was rather enriching, made new friends and connections and ended on a positive note.

While the program got over, the fear started taking over. It was all over the news that Covid-19 spreads through contact and proximity and also that it may takes upto 14 days for symptoms to reveal. It was only after 14 days passed, I breathed a sigh of relief, in my mind. But by that time, another outstation travel was scheduled for next week. In the 10th year of starting our journeys together at IIM Raipur, the Alumni Meet enthused many from our batch, around 18 of us.

Add to that a brand new campus and some enthusiastic boarders on campus, the meet turned into party. By this time, international travelers were being screened on airports. And one of the alumni had come all the way from Singapore to attend the meet, nice young chap.

In case interested in details, here is the timeline of travel advisories issued by Government of India.

Blame it on change of weather or travel to places, I was a bit under the weather by the time I returned back to Patna. I was down with mild fever, dry cough and a bit of cold - the similarity of symptoms with Covid-19 coupled all the domestic travel, it all started playing on my mind. Putting up a brave face, I consulted a physician the next morning. 5 days dose of medicine, great care done by my wife and well wishes of  my family, I had almost recovered and just did not care to consult the doctor again.

"Social Distancing" was fast becoming the buzz word. Health care practitioners around the world were suggesting distancing along with frequent hand wash as most reliable preventive measures against corona virus. Under such circumstances, We traveled to Gaya in a passenger train about 3 days before festival of Holi and as luck would have it, it turned out to be most crowded one. Caution was blown away by the wind. Mind wished prayer every moment it can that we remain safe. We remained safe.

Advisories were being issued that maintain the "distancing" thing during festival of Holi that do not gather in large crowds, it had little impact on general population. While a lot of political and social Holi meet and greet events were cancelled, but people at an individual level celebrated Holi with all fun and frolic. Me too, after a long time, with childhood friends. 

But times to come would not be so much fun.