Covid-19 : Social Distancing Fast Disappearing!

The encounter between Michael N and her classmates on December 27, 2020 was thrilling.  Michael from Belgium was on Christmas holidays in Yaounde. Classmates were not sure about his whereabouts, but knew he was around. During a mini classmate gathering at the Melen neighbourhood in Yaounde, Michael and another classmate made an unexpected entrance. The moment others caught sight of Michael, the excitement was uncontrollable. Shouts of joy and a group hug followed. Michael did not just receive a crowd bath from other classmates, but also kisses. In all of this, nobody was wearing a facemask. Nobody thought about the Coronavirus and the need to exercise social distancing as a major means to curb the spread of the pandemic. 
The uncontrolled excitement with which families and friends welcome each other and guests nowadays do not give room for respect of social distancing.  The worst is during weddings and other festive ceremonies. The sitting positions in weddings do not respect social distancing. Tables and chairs are closely placed. When it comes to taking pictures, guests closely hold each other. At times, there are even sessions in pictures during which they blow kisses to each other with the slogan “life taste...” Life indeed is sweet, but that is when there is no Covid-19 in the air. The dancing and singing sessions during ceremonies have not helped in the respect of social distancing as a barrier measure against Covid-19. People freely dance Zouk blows and other tempo, as they scream and joyfully swing their bodies. 
Besides wedding ceremonies, the respect of social distancing in different ceremonies such as family gatherings, birthday parties and memorial services is ignored. While some people say it is hard to apply social distancing in family and memorial gatherings, others say space does not permit them to practise social distancing. As a result, people are obliged to sit close to each other. Clement B, another Cameroonian from the United States of America on holidays in Douala says h...