Coronavirus Pandemic: Fear of the Unknown, Shaking Psychological Well-being, Economy, Politics and Morality

The essay examines the meaning and impact of Covid-19 in comparative relation to some of the experiences of the Black Death (1348–1350). It also presents and critically analyses actual case studies of pseudo-named people—in recognition and respect for confidentiality in research ethics—infected by Covid-19. “South Africa” is the primary but not the only focus of this essay. The thesis defended in this essay is that the “social distance” prescribed as a preventative measure to curb the spread of Covid-19 ought to be complemented by ethical “proximity to the other.”   Kweli phepha, sizo bonakalisa iintlungu eziviwe ngabantu abaye basuleleka yintsholongwane ye Corona—iSevere Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (Covid-19) ngelasemzini. Lentsholongwane ibaphazamise ngokwase moyeni nangokwase ngqondweni. Sizo phinda sijonge ukuba iCorona ingathelekiswa njani nokuba yohluke njani kwi medieval Black Death eyabulala abantu abaninzi mandulo. Abantu aba balisa amabali abo kweli phepha baphiwe amagama angewo wenyani ukuze sibahloniphe, nemfihlo zabo zingafikeleli kubantu ababaziyo.