News
Curfew brings back old-time amusements along with new toys
People are watching the street scene from their balconies, playing music, singing, studying nature and talking more to family members – old leisure habits revived to cope with hours spent cooped up at home during curfew.
This, of course, is in addition to modern habits of surfing the net, skipping from app to app to stay in touch with friends on social media, watching television or working and studying online.
Psychiatrists are emphasising the importance of keeping up social contacts at this troubling time.
Kumudu Wijewardena, 48, of Mount Lavinia said she suffers anxiety and stress from being forced to spend most of her time indoors, with every day passing in the same manner.
“Every day has become the same as the others, with having to cook, eat and sleep within the confinement of my house,” she said. “To change the pattern I watch television, listen to music or spend time with my husband and daughter.”
She and her husband spend hours watching the street and the workings of nature from the balcony of their house.
Her daughter, Sadeepa Dideniya, a student of a private university, is awaiting the commencement of online lectures following the university’s announcement that lectures would be delivered through the internet.
She keeps in touch with her friends through mobile apps and talks with relatives via video calls. Her mobile phone keeps her informed about the outside world but she says she is fed up with using the phone all the time.
Nevertheless, she said, the lockdown has positive aspects. “Because of this curfew I have more time to spend with my family, engage in studies in a relaxed way and spend time improving my singing skills and making music,” she said.
M. Sudharshani, 36, who lives in Wattala, said spending time at home has become a challenge with looking after her one-year-old daughter.
“With the curfew being imposed indefinitely I have to manage the food with what is available with me, but the problem is that my little one doesn’t like to eat the same food twice, so I have to cook food differently for every meal,” she said.
Because she is worried about catching the virus she does not allow her daughter to play outside in the garden but instead gives her colour pencils to draw pictures.
“Keeping her indoors is difficult task,” Ms. Sudharshani said. “If the door is left open she runs outside but luckily since my husband is at home too I can relax as he too can look after her. Most of time he reads her stories and plays with her.”
Some people are working from home on computers as they are unable to go to their workplaces.
Software engineer S. Weerakoon, who works for an IT company, says he is delighted to work from home as he does not need to get up early morning to go to the office.
“I only need to switch on my laptop to start working. It’s easy: I can start working early and get the work done.”
One minor drawback was being slowed down by not having the resources that are available at his workplace. Another was having to break off from work to attend to housework.
He spends the rest of his time watching movies or relaxing at home.
For 90-year-old retired government employee Hector Silva, life is more arduous as he follows government instructions to stay home.
In the past he used to enjoy himself walking about in the lane outside his house and tending his garden but now he has stopped those habits out of concern about the pandemic.
“I don’t even water the plants or sweep the garden; I am worried because of this virus. I don’t want to contract any illness,” Mr. Silva said.
Psychiatrists said because people are stressed and anxious they should try to keep in contact with others.
Consultant psychiatrist Dr. Indika Mudalige, who works as a senior lecturer at the University Hospital of Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, said the pandemic had made people uncertain of what the future holds.
He said this was normal as the situation was, indeed, grave.
It was, however, important to remember that the country’s current situation was much better than elsewhere in the world.
“People do not need to over-think the situation,” he said.
“The health ministry as well as the electronic and print media are providing information about the country’s current situation and therefore people do not need to panic.”
Dr. Mudalige advised people not to panic over alarmist social media posts but to depend on reliable sources of information. Following government instructions and self-care practices were critical to keep infection at bay.
He urged the media to present news in a positive manner while giving honest facts and statistics, to give people a positive message.
Dr. Mudalige advised people to use the modern technology available to stay in touch with their loved ones and relieve mutual anxiety.