With many countries seeing tangible results from the strict restrictions put in place to suppress the coronavirus transmission, the lockdown in some places is being slowly relaxed. However, the WHO Chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned last Wednesday against being complacent, saying the virus is going to stay for a long time.
“One of the greatest dangers we face now is complacency. People in countries with stay-at-home orders are understandably frustrated with being confined to their homes for weeks on end”, he said.
And while many are rejoicing the news of restrictions starting to loosen in some places, the legacy of the ‘stay at home’ mandate is not all bad.
Highlights
- Clinical psychologist Peter Kyriakoylis says Australians have worked together for the common goal of curbing the spread of the virus
- He says notwithstanding the negative impact of the pandemic, positive “side-effects” beyond suppressing the curve have stemmed from the restrictions
- Community members share their experience on how the COVID-19 conditions have helped them discover new opportunities within the professional and personal realm
Melbourne-based Costa Andriotis, a maintenance technician for green walls and roofs, says he enjoys more free time with the 'stay at home' restrictions Source: Supplied
“We have seen people take action and adapt to the strict measures that have been put in place, and people have made significant transitions in both their personal and professional lives,” he tells SBS Greek.
He says the results of “working together” for this common goal, has proven Australians to be agile “in adapting to these changes” bringing forward our individual and community resilience.
“Connecting to your values and what is important to you in life during this COVID-19 pandemic, whilst practicing acceptance and tolerance and being adaptable and flexible could help build personal and community resilience”.
The gift of time
According to Dr Kyriakoulis, “one of the outcomes of the strict measures has resulted in people ‘slowing down’, as life may have been previously described as being too fast pace.”
Melbourne resident Costa Andriotis couldn’t agree more.
“Personally, I think the best thing coming out of the coronavirus situation is that I have more time […] to devote in things that matter for me and reflect on what’s important for me”.
Choosing to lead a social life, Mr Andriotis explains, means he would usually be surrounded by other people.
“I was constantly busy and at the moment, I have more time than before staying at home to cook, exercise, meditate, read books, plan my future.
“I have free time and this for me is the biggest gift,” he says.
It has now been several weeks since the Oakleigh clinic, where Dr Kyriakoulis works, started delivering services to patients via Telehealth.
He says the experience so far is no short of challenges, which include building rapport without the physical presence and the difficulty in guaranteeing confidentiality from the client’s end as finding a private space at home during COVID-19 with all family members around is hard.
But the use of Telehealth has brought some unexpected positive changes in family settings, such as “seeing children in their own home environment and comfort zone” which has allowed better insights to the child’s behavior according to Dr. Kyriakoulis.
“Furthermore, it has been positive for therapists having had the opportunity to engage with both parents via Telehealth, and particularly with the parent that would not have been able to attend sessions in the therapist’s office.”
COVID-19 conditions have created a unique situation with most families staying at home, which Dr Kyriakoulis cautions is far from a positive experience for many, highlighting the problem of domestic violence.
Yet some others seem to have benefitted from finding time for their families, particularly kids.
Greek Australian football manager Michael Kathopoulis can testify to that.
Source: Getty Images/Attila Csaszar
“I see now more parents playing outdoors with their children, to an extent I hadn’t witnessed for the last 20 or 30 years when I was a kid myself. I see them spending more time with their children and this is really positive.”
Mr Kathopoulis has created a mobile app aiming to help both professionals and amateur fans of the sport, including young children, to improve their football skills.
While the app was around before the coronavirus crisis hit, he says he observed a renewed interest, citing a recent record of 15,000 downloads within a week.
Hopes for a ‘greener’ future
Mr Andriotis throws another one in the mix of coronavirus feel-good effects: the fact that the human footprint on earth appears to have lightened, albeit temporarily for now.
“The positive impact on the environment is undeniable. We hear it all the time, and we can see it everyday actually, with less cars on the streets, few planes flying now, the factories are also producing less so air pollution has dropped significantly”.
Indeed, as far as air quality is concerned, a recent confirms a dramatic improvement in the months of March and April in the world’s major cities, largely because of a reduction in factory and road traffic emissions.
Combined with global air traffic slashed by 60%, greenhouse gas emissions have had a temporary dip.
However, the report notes that “not all the environmental consequences of the crisis have been positive” and that emissions will “most likely rise to previous levels” when economic activity resumes in previous levels.
Mr Andriotis, an environmental advocate himself, says he doesn’t assume improvements will be durable but remains hopeful towards a potential opportunity for individuals and nations to rethink their approach.
“I am hopeful that countries around the world might invest more in sustainable energy and environmentally-friendly ways of boosting productivity.
“Surely, we don’t know what will happen when we go back to ‘normal’ and I think that in fact it could even turn worse than before considering the motive for increased productivity […] but perhaps this is an opportunity for all of us to understand the importance of ‘slowing down’ and not acting like there’s no tomorrow.
