As the holy month of Ramazan comes to a close, there is much reminiscing of previous Ramazans. In a non-Covid world, the month is celebrated in traditional ways. In 2020, that seems to have diminished considerably in our personal lives as well as the collective. This Ramazan has truly been different and in this edition we explore how.

As people exercise greater freedom of movement in the wake of easing of lockdown restrictions ahead of Eid, there are growing concerns about the well-being and safety. It is only right for government representatives, law enforcing personnel and healthcare professionals to express those concerns.

Doctors and healthcare professionals, including nursing staff and paramedics, have been at the frontline since this pandemic hit our world late last year. In Pakistan, since the end of February we have witnessed healthcare professionals taking the lead in this struggle to control the pandemic. As the world lauded the efforts of healthcare professionals across the globe for their efforts in the face of a deadly virus, stories of insufficient protective and safety equipment surfaced. These stories continue to unfold.

But there are others as well who continue to risk their lives to carry out their duties in these trying times. Police and other law enforcing personnel have worked on many fronts to make sure that people do what is best for them. These ranged from ensuring people stay at home or follow SOPs at public places and markets to providing security and ensuring social distancing among worshippers at mosques. The challenges were many and continue to remain so.

While there are few moments of joy in such times, and while it is quite human to make the most of those, it is also only human to be concerned and mindful of the unknown.

With hope that the coming weeks and months bring us safety and relief from this raging pandemic and that the people understand that wishing away the virus or ignoring its deadly presence is a sorry excuse for a strategy, particularly when thousands of doctors and healthcare professionals continue to advise precaution. We hope for the sake of everyone you stay safe. Eid Mubarak.