Way back in 2005 (when I was 61), I gave a bottle of Dettol to the barber in Makkah who was shaving my head, as I didn't like to be infected. He threw the bottle away, saying "Nothing will happen to you unless it is willed by God". That is the belief of all Pakistanis, so they will not take as much care as people of other countries to protect themselves from the Corona virus.

I'm not at all surprised at the emergence of this lethal virus. We have screwed up the planet so much that nature was bound to take revenge. The good thing this virus will do is to reduce environmental pollution (as most people will remain indoors, thereby reducing petrol consumption). The bad thing, of course, is that there will be a massive economic recession, throwing millions out of jobs and causing many people to die. Since the elderly and those suffering from asthma are most at risk, it'll be a miracle if I survive. As someone said, "An old man is a great lover of life", and now that I'm 75, I want to live up to 90, even though there have been times when I have fervently wanted to die (especially when I've been sick).

They say the virus won't be able to survive when the weather gets hot (maybe April, which is a month away). Until that time, there is great danger of many people falling victim to it. Let's hope for the best.

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