Since December 2019, coronavirus has shaken the world affecting every aspect of human life.

With more than a million infected people and over a hundred thousand deaths, a lot of people, almost one quarter of the world’s population, are now confined to their homes.

As Rwanda's tally has passed the hundredth mark, borders, airports, and businesses are closed. Towns that were once teeming with hustle and bustle have now become ghost-towns.

While putting everything on lockdown seems to be one of the unparalleled measures to curb the spread of the coronavirus, the lingering question is "will our social life be the same once the pandemic is contained?”

Adeline Ishimwe, a University of Rwanda student, told The New Times that once everything goes back to normal, she will be thinking twice before making contact with another person.

"I feel that after all this is over, I will continue refraining myself from shaking someone’s hand and instead say hey or hi,” said the 22-year-old.

That can be attributed to the physical distancing or what Professor Eugene Rutembesa, Clinical Psychologist and psychotherapist, and a senior lecturer at the University of Rwanda, labelled as a "trauma” which he pins to the death toll and how easily contagious the virus has proved to be.

"Every news bulletin is talking about the pandemic and the numbers of infected people or the number of those who have died which is horrific for everyone,” he said.

According to him, the trauma has affected the social fabric and will change some of the social norms which were drawn from our culture that upholds togetherness, geniality and solidarity being the reason behind physical contact once two people are greeting each other.

For instance, you find people stopping inches away from hugging each other or some even apologizing for having touched you-which normally shouldn’t have been a problem- while greeting you, Prof. Rutembesa explained.

Additionally, he added, sneezing will make people around you paranoid with some fleeing from the place while before coronavirus, upon sneezing, people could tell you urakire-which loosely means "Get well soon”.

Positive changes

However, as the saying goes "we never realize the value of something until it’s gone”, Eric Rubayiza, another student at University of Rwanda says he is going to cherish some of the things he undervalued such as time with friends and traveling.

"This lockdown has made me realize that I never used to travel, so I will be travelling to see new places and also give more time to friends because when you just see them around you never realize how much they are dear to you,” Rubayiza said.

In reiteration, Prof. Rutembesa pointed out that the lockdown has allowed people to contemplate their life and will likely live fully once the pandemic is contained.

"People had become very egocentric with the excuse of always being busy but this period has given them a chance to enjoy quality time with their children and loved ones at home thus mending broken relationships, and will likely keep finding time to do it once this is over,” he said.

Furthermore, it has brought out solidarity in people as they shared what they had with the needy and the vulnerable which should teach us that we can take care of the needy in our society- Prof. Rutembesa added.