Coronavirus Skeptics: Don't be a doubting Thomas over your own life

"..............Jesus saith unto him, Thomas, because thou hast seen me, thou hast believed: blessed [are] they that have not seen, and [yet] have believed.' (John 20:24–29)

 'A doubting Thomas' is a term often used in reference to the biblical story of the apostle Thomas, as indicated in the Biblical text above who refused to believe that the other apostles had seen the resurrected Jesus until he could actually see and feel the wounds Jesus received during his crucifixion.

Since the novel coronavirus visited us from Wuhan China, many people have had all sorts of theories and conspiracies about it and its origin chief, among them the President of the United state of America, Donald Trump Junior. Kenya has not been left behind this heretic madness either with mostly the youthful groups leading the nonconformist bandwagon. You would either meet them prattling on the street with no masks on or reading their sarcastic posts on social media, asking for those who know of anyone with Covid19. Sadly this silly skepticism is not confined to the ordinary street guy.

Nevertheless, since nature hardly fails to exhibit itself to humanity, like disciple Thomas, it takes the virus to affect them directly. Dock at the doors of their close relatives to crush their lofty brides down to others and come to a sober reality that true the virus is not a hoax. It's not a fictitious narrative cooked up by some governments to mint money as they tried, and others still try to insinuate. 

It is never in doubt that many world governments, including our own, the Kenyan Government, were never prepared for the virus; nobody was. That is why it is referred to as 'novel' meaning new. It is also true that many mistakes and initial, mix-ups and false test results have added to the confusion like our own Lancet Laboratories in Nairobi and The Kenya Medical Research Institute (KEMRI) /MOH, tiff over discordant Covid19 test results. In Argentina, Medical researchers in Argentina are left scratching their heads after 57 sailors were tested positive for COVID-19 after spending 35 days at sea. The crew had previously tested negative before boarding their vessel, the Echizen maru fishing trawler.

But it should not fool you to believe that the virus is not there. Of course, it is not there, or that is just a figment of the government for clowns who have not come face to face with it.

Until Katie Miller, Vice President Mike Pence's press secretary, a military Valet, and host of other Trump campaign staffers tested positive; President Trump continues to downplay the virus presence and its threats to Americans, calling it 'just 'common flu which would disappear soonest. It has refused to go. As of 18th July 2020, the Us had recorded 3.68 Million infections and 141,000 deaths. After months of dithering over wearing a face mask, Trump was finally seen putting on a mask in public, albeit briefly while visiting the Walter Reed military hospital outside Washington, where he met wounded soldiers and health care workers. On the other hand, his wife, first lady, Melania Trump, wore matching face mask with her shoes in public to promote life-saving face covering. All these were complete departures from Trump's previous stance, even chiding presumed Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden when he wore a black mask during the 'Memorial Day.'

In swallowing his previous words, Trump had this to say before leaving White House:

"I've never been against masks, but I do believe they have a time and a place."

But perhaps the most memorable anti-mask wearer, who, like Trump, equally viewed reports on covid19 around the world and his country is Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro. He criticized regional governors for imposing restrictions to slow the spread of the virus. He had also defied advised to put on face masks instead of going about his public appearance and political campaigns, taking selfies with his supporters without observing physical distancing or putting on a face mask. But then the inevitable happened. He tested positive not once but twice despite his anti-malaria drug hydroxychloroquine, another of Trump's touted against covid19. 

On Monday 13, July 2020, Former "Love Connection" and "Wheel of Fortune" game show host Chuck Woolery accused medical professionals and Democrats of lying about the virus to hurt the economy and President Trump's reelection chances. He had tweeted:

"The most outrageous lies are the ones about CCOVID19. Everyone is lying. The CDC, Media, Democrats, our Doctors, not all but most, that we are told to trust. I think it's all about the election and keeping the economy from coming back, which is about the election. I'm sick of it." Trump retweeted this tweet in a show of solidarity.

But on Wednesday 15th, July 2020, he had to eat humble pie and forced out of embarrassment rather than the guilt to delete his tweeter account after his son tested positive for Covid19.

"To further clarify and add perspective, Covid-19 is real, and it is here. My son tested positive for the virus, and I feel for of those suffering and especially for those who have lost loved ones," Woolery was reported to have tweeted before his account went under.

Then there is a middle-aged man who also dismissed the existence of the disease, went to the bar and partied, he later tested positive and was remorseful when talking to CNN.

An Ohio veteran, Richard Rose III had this to say about wearing a face mask, two months before he got covid19 and went down with it:

"I've made it this far by not buying into that damn hype."

And of course, Pastor Landon Spradlin described the news of covid19 as mass 'hysteria' over nothing, claiming the virus is overhyped. He died after attending Louisiana Mardi Gras Festivals... to 'save souls.'

The examples above are not works of fiction but real people who had to sober up when finally the disease knocked on their doors, but since dead people tell no tales, many still consider the disease and some mythical story.

You or someone close to you may not be there next time an article of this kind appears in newspapers or social media, so if you have never believed in coronavirus, you better do. You are not better than the 12,062 positive Kenyans or 222 people who have died, so as of 17th July 2020. They were taxpayers, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters and uncles, and aunties just like you are.

Stay Safe.