By Chidi Emmanuel

world is almost under lockdown for weeks now, thanks to the deadly coronavirus. Amid all of this, there are lots to learn and explore as the deadly virus wreaks havoc. People are beginning to see each other as one. COVID-19 is now making us stay at home and live a simple life. The world leaders (all of a sudden) are calling for unity - no more wars and violence.

Surprisingly, Taleban fighters in Afghanistan have seen the need to spare medical practitioners in a bid to fight COVID-19. Petrified by the epidemic, the Taleban leaders have pledged their readiness to work with medical practitioners instead of killing them as they normally did in the past. "The Islamic Emirate via its Health Commission assures all international health organizations and WHO of its readiness to cooperate and coordinate with them in combating the coronavirus," said Suhail Shaheen, the Taleban's spokesman, on Twitter.

As if that is not enough, people are beginning to see the need to avoid unnecessary handshake, hugs, and pecks on the cheek. We now try a direct gaze, or maybe a hand gesture instead of a handshake while greeting. Across the globe, people are changing their habits at home, work places and in places of worship to reduce the risk of contracting the deadly virus. Here is a look at some of the changes in behavior due to the coronavirus, which has killed more than 70,000 worldwide.

Spitting and coughing
Across Kuwait, one can notice a sudden change of behavior. Before the coronavirus pandemic (from the edges of the elevator to that of the public buses), one will always be greeted with a disgusting red-like salivary substances carefully deposited at one corner by paan and guthka eaters. These edges of the elevators and buildings are no longer soiled as they used to be before. Spitting is among the multitude of irritating anti-social behavior witnessed on a daily basis. Among other etiquettes, people have seen the need cover their mouths and noses with a tissue when they cough or sneeze.

Handshake and hugging
Authorities and medical experts have advised people not to shake hands or hug each other as a sign of greeting. COVID-19 has triggered various social media campaigns against kissing on the cheek, handshakes and hugging. Our normal way of greeting has been replaced with just a smile, bump fists and elbow bump - in a bid to curb the raging virus. UAE, as well as Qatar, have advised citizens to stop the traditional 'nose to nose' greeting. The UAE also urged people to wave instead of kissing - or a handshake.

Hand washing, lockdown
In recent times, regular and thorough washing of the hands with soap and alcohol-based hand rub have become critical in the fight against the novel coronavirus disease. As the pandemic continues to spread, we are all reminded on the importance of hand washing as a key preventive measure against the COVID-19.

Hand washing with soap is one of the cheapest, most effective things you can do to protect yourself and others against coronavirus, as well as many other infectious diseases. In any way you look at it, the deadly virus has actually changed our lives - both in a good and a bad way. The lockdown and 'social distancing' measures are bringing families closer than before.