New Delhi: COVID-19 continues to make headlines as the global economy, healthcare systems and daily lives reel in the wake of the pandemic. Many on Twitter got together to share their quarantine experiences and the various ways they’re dealing with the coronavirus.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi encourages cancelled meetings and working from home. Are Indian bosses listening?
A wise call.
Avoiding non-essential travel and minimising social outings are welcome steps. #IndiaFightsCorona https://t.co/0pRrbmfXXm
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 16, 2020
After Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez’s wife has also tested positive for COVID-19. Writer Doreen St. Felix smells something fishy.
only the wives, huh? https://t.co/ZhJecSSOHg
— doreen st. félix (@dstfelix) March 15, 2020
Author Roxane Gay is convinced that that the creator of Chernobyl, the Netflix show about the 1986 Chernobyl nuclear disaster, has a coronavirus-inspired show up his sleeve. Read the answer she received.
I’m not. But I *am* urging everyone to practice social distancing and frequent hand washing with soap and water. https://t.co/wGozvQpMNX
— Craig Mazin (@clmazin) March 15, 2020
Pakistani-American actor Kumail Nanjiani might be known for his comic timing, but social-distancing to avoid coronavirus is no joke to him.
People get upset and annoyed at me when I tweet about the coronavirus, when I urge people to stay in and avoid crowds. My favorite person in the world is immunocompromised. Go ahead and unfollow me. I’ll be tweeting about this until I’m down to zero followers.
— Kumail Nanjiani (@kumailn) March 15, 2020
Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the way in encouraging global cooperation in these trying times by organising a video conference of SAARC nations — not unnaturally, he felt a degree of satisfaction.
Working together is the best way to overcome this menace.
The way ahead lies in :
Collaboration not Confusion.
Preparation not Panic.
We have to fight this battle together, and we have to win it together.
Our neighbourhood collaboration should be a model for the world.
— Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) March 15, 2020
However, some people differed with his view of things.
Lies. When I passed immigration in February, the officer didn't even bother to ask where I'm coming from. https://t.co/iJsIuZRKPH
— Angellica Aribam (@AngellicAribam) March 15, 2020
Lies. I landed on Feb 23. There was zero screening at the Delhi Int'l airport. https://t.co/s3q8PgxGdY
— Meghnad ? (@Memeghnad) March 16, 2020
Lie Lie Lie – When I entered India in the last week of February, immigration asked me all sorts of things for 15 minutes but not #Corona! https://t.co/75HeGp8OZQ
— Ashok Swain (@ashoswai) March 15, 2020
Western Railway outs an open secret. Don’t know about you, but now we’re wondering about the cleanliness of the sheets they use…
Kindly note that it has been decided to withdraw curtains & blankets from AC coaches of trains as they are not washed every trip, for prevention of #coronavirus. Passengers may please bring their own blankets if need be. Inconvenience is regretted. @RailMinIndia @PiyushGoyalOffc
— Western Railway (@WesternRly) March 14, 2020
Kerala Congress Convener Raju P. Nair experienced the hazards of sanitising your hands.
Today my friend took me to Govinda restaurant inside ISKCON Temple complex, Andheri where I had to go through a security check. After frisking they asked me to show my hands and sprayed something which smelled awkward. When I questioned they said it is gaumutra @OfficeofUT pic.twitter.com/Qdx44ungsS
— Raju P. Nair (@RajuPNair) March 15, 2020
Some light relief from the Aam Aadmi Party.
A train was spotted at the relief camp in Delhi. ?
pic.twitter.com/eWrwXMW43V— AAP (@AamAadmiParty) March 15, 2020
Social distancing according to actor Tisca Chopra.
This is what #socialdistancing can mean at this time & each of us has a crucial part to play to rein in the contagion .. stay away if not necessary from groups of people.. #StaySafe #StayAtHome dear people .. #COVID2019 #coronavirus pic.twitter.com/ktVH1z76DW
— Tisca Chopra (@tiscatime) March 16, 2020
An unlikely fallout of the coronavirus is Pope Francis walking through Rome’s deserted street.
Photo for surreal times: Pope Francis in broad daylight yesterday walking down one of Rome’s main shopping avenues. Barely anybody else was out on the streets. pic.twitter.com/emt3gumQb5
— Chico Harlan (@chicoharlan) March 16, 2020
Desperate times call for desperate measures! US President Donald Trump remembering the almighty.
TODAY IS A NATIONAL DAY OF PRAYER. GOD BLESS EVERYONE!
— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 15, 2020
And, while the world grapples with how quarantines and social-distancing actually works, Nithyananda, founder of “Republic of Kailaasa”, is having the last laugh.
https://twitter.com/SriKailashPmo/status/1239497036564582400
(This report has been updated to correctly reflect that it was Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s wife who tested positive for COVID-19)