Paranoia on Display
This past month in Hawaii, Covid-19 fatalities have accounted for one-fourth of the total deaths from the pandemic since March 2000. And infections have been 10 times higher than last year’s. Therefore, it is not surprising that some people have become super vigilant in protecting themselves from the disease. Yesterday in a medical complex, a thin young woman was unusually cautious in avoiding anyone who could possibly contaminate her.
In the doctor’s office, both of us got keys to the rest rooms. The woman left a bit before I did. When I entered the wide corridor and was ready to pass by her, she shuddered and squished her body against the wall. After I moved way ahead of her, I looked back. At that moment, she managed to wrest herself away from her secure position and began to edge towards the ladies’ room.
I didn’t see her again until we both were waiting for the elevator that allowed four persons at a time. She positioned herself at least twenty feet away from me. When the elevator came, she remained secluded in the far corner of the corridor. I went in. There was plenty of room for her to distance herself from me in the elevator, but she chose not to join me.
At first I thought that the woman was trying to stay as far away from me as she could because I somehow scared her, even though I was properly wearing a mask, as she was. I later realized that she was frightened of everyone else as well. Before I left the building, I happened to see her ever-so-slowly trailing behind a few people. If anyone came up beside her, she stopped short, not moving until that person had gone further on.
Perhaps she was so apprehensive because she was unvaccinated. But I can’t believe that such a scrupulous person would be that irresponsible, for whatever reason.
I felt sorry for the young woman. It was as if she was afraid of being sucked into the riptide of Covid-19 spreaders.
So I wonder, is fighting the flow self-defeating? Could the stress of having to obsessively steer clear of others undermine one’s mental and physical health?
schlomo