As the world battles the spread of coronavirus, many conspiracy theorists have come out to define its origin and purpose. Some believe it was as a result of China's indiscretion with wildlife consumption. Others, with extreme theory, believe it was created by scientists to reduce world population. All of these, however, are just speculations without concrete evidence to back them up.
One could easily lean towards the first theory stating the virus came from wildlife consumption as lots of other deadly diseases like HIV, Ebola, MERS, Bird Flu and SARS were as a result of human interactions with animals - wild or domestic.
It is, however, not hard to believe the second theory like the first, seeing the recorded number of deaths associated with COVID-19 pandemic around the world. But the thoughts held by the second theory could be countered with a critical and closer view at some of the measures put in place by world leaders in dousing the spread of the virus.
One of the many measures encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO) and adopted by national leaders around the world is the unpleasant 'lockdown' or 'sit-at-home' orders. It is unpleasant as staying at home could be boring, and depressing to people who have mental health conditions.
Unpleasant as it may appear, lockdown or stay-at-home order during a pandemic as rampaging as COVID-19 is, could be the greatest measure in slowing down the flu-like virus. It was done to a successful conclusion in China. It has so far been effective in Spain and Italy. So there are no better ways, right now, by which the world could stem the spread of this monster than to go into lockdown.
We could rave passionately all day about the beauty of lockdown in ending coronavirus; about how it has helped families on the edge heal; about how it has given couples - struggling to keep up with the family - time to spend together. But there is a danger silently lurking around happy unrestrained couples - unplanned babies.
A recent article published by the Daily Mail states, demands for emergency contraceptive pills have spiked by 122 percent in the past one month of lockdown. It further clarifies that the drugs ordered for are morning after pills, that is they are pills taken after sex by happy couples, who never planned to have kids, but could not control their urge for intercourse.
You could argue for the use of condoms. But sorry for breaking this to you, the production of condoms around the world have been put on hold until lockdown ends as it is tagged 'non-essential'. There is a current shortfall in the supply of condoms. If you find this hard to believe, please do consult your local pharmaceutical stores - only if you are given the liberty to go into one during this lockdown.
Malaysia which has the biggest plant for condom production in the world is the coronavirus worst hit nation in south-east Asia. They are under lockdown, which has affected condom supply world wide.
As much as lockdown is helping stem the spread of coronavirus, could it also be a catalyst for the dreaded population explosion experts have always talked about? With a shortfall in condom supply around the world, increasing demand for 'non-essential' morning after pills, and fun loving happy couples locked at home together all day; the world might be looking to add millions, if not billions, of kids to the already strained world resources.
In a world of 1.79 billion people without the compulsory sit-at-home order, and access to birth control items, the daily birth rate - not minding the rate of daily conception - is over 300,000. How will our maternity wards be like nine months from now or when lockdown is lifted?
My humble advice, in the meantime, would be that condoms and contraceptive pills be grouped amongst the 'essential' items open to citizens during this lockdown. This is a case for the production of items that would help prevent catastrophe in the future.
It would be a great gesture to happy, and fun loving couples if the production of birth control items are allowed like the productions of personal protective equipment. Birth control products are essential to couples as much as food to all.
Fighting coronavirus with lockdown orders could be effective, but the consequences to the world population could be brutal if adequate measures are ignored.
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