Thread by @Vidyut

Was about to sleep after the Twitter space. Instead got into conversation with a distraught Covid volunteer. Mostly said nothing. Listened as words like "dystopia" "genocide" "crushed between Modi govt and pandemic" were used.

I offered "forced to witness unimaginable tragedy"

She described some volunteers who had lost family members jumping right back to help others without taking any time off. "We are not able to take time off. If we stop for any reason, we will collapse and go mad. We need a win before stopping or it is unbearable." (paraphrased)

The kind of mental pressure volunteers operate under is beyond comprehension. There are no words of support to offer. All you can do is listen and shut up and WITNESS that this is happening. They are going through this. Someone sees their pain and the fight they are putting up.

By the time the pandemic is done, I think we are going to start seeing those who died as lucky to escape the nightmares the survivors will inherit.

And while this conversation was happening, a friend messaged in another window that we are finally getting control of the pandemic because of herd immunity. (this person had previously argued against masks)

Did not reply, because can't strangle someone over WA.

I don't know what world WA inhabits, because India set records for both cases per day and deaths per day literally a few hours before this message claiming that we have covid under control.

What control?