Anthropologists Answer Four Questions about the Pandemic

When news of the novel coronavirus broke out, those us in Kenya, where I'm located, thought it would go away without ever causing havoc we have seen. After all, Africa has had its own share viral outbreaks, such as Ebola, bag mixed fortune, but emerged out these outbreaks. In any case, previous outbreaks Middle East respiratory syndrome (MERS) and severe acute (SARS) left unscathed. We were wrong! As January 10, 2021, a continent cumulatively 3,037,007 COVID-19 cases 72,216 deaths, while Kenya's confirmed stood at 98,184 with 1,704 deaths. The first case was reported Kenya on March 13, 2020, not from traveler China, virus's epicenter, Kenyan returning home United States through London. Immediately government pronounced raft measures, including invocation Public Health Act (1986 Rev. 2012), which allowed health authorities to prescribe enforce measures stem spread. A day after, imposed travel ban high-risk countries, effectively shutting down passenger air transport, an order close all learning institutions also issued. These tightened further closure businesses offices, declaration countrywide dusk-to-dawn curfew (7 p.m. 5 a.m.) form public gathering, funerals, religious, political meetings. net effect soon became apparent almost every sector economy. pandemic disrupted activities various levels: personal, family, community, institutional. At personal level, individuals deal fear unknown. One issues is that you cannot tell who infected, especially if they are asymptomatic. My schedules altered I could no longer, for example, my exercise. problem compounded by fact compliance issued guidelines low. second challenge family level. (extended) meetings often involve several generations, put greater risk senior members extended family. Therefore, limit way curbing potential spread virus. restrictions place prohibited church attendance, weddings, limited attendance burial functions. important functions guarantee continued connection within community. There been three major effects institution. First, early containment measure, ordered country. Universities relied tuition fees paid students denied source revenue support their operations. Second, universities another, positive, university slow adopt online learning, pressure pay staff meet other statutory obligations accelerated, although rather haphazardly first, movement administration examinations platforms. Third, cessation halted field-based research activities. Even after relaxation anthropological approaches data collection, participant observation focus group discussion, immediate concern potentially increasing spreading teams restarted field research, changed data-collection procedures incurred additional costs protective equipment like hand sanitizers face masks. keen interest focusing zoonoses. topic discussion central zoonoses how disease, cross animal–human boundary our role humans aiding cross-over. believe crossed over because actions—whether Chinese wet markets driven culinary preferences or some way. do not, now, there deliberate human effort introduce virus nor accidental release same. Our very actions, insatiable appetite tinker nature, led race. Anthropology helps me ask questions. implementation relates remains treated. start pandemic, took control burials suspected cases, doing so even dead night little involvement families deceased. So increasingly am asking, space, what rights rites deceased claim? Are cross-cultural differences perceived, practiced, dispensed?