When I look back to July last year, I remember that somewhere around that time I still harboured hope that the coronavirus pandemic would soon be over, and we would all return to what we knew as normal.
How foolish of me! Oh well, we were on level 3 lockdown, new infections numbers were down and I thought the worst was over.
Unbeknown to me the worst was still to come. A few weeks later it hit home as mama succumbed to Covid-19 complications on August 10. That was the most traumatic experience of my 39 years on this Earth, which left me lost, and I am still learning to live with it.
Enough about me, millions globally have suffered, including in SA. Many lost loved ones, jobs and spouses in the tumultuous year that was 2020.
Yesterday, more than 1.48m people had contracted the virus in SA, 1.37m had recovered and more than 46,000 had died. We reported on two families in the past few weeks, one that had lost five family members to Covid-19 and the other that had lost seven.
Many also lost their jobs in an already battered economy. Local researchers published the National Income Dynamics Coronavirus Rapid Survey in July, which analysed the economic impact of the pandemic and the lockdown. It revealed that about 3m people became jobless under lockdown, which marked an 18% drop in employment – from the 17m recorded in February 2020 to 14m in April of the same year. Figures released by Stats SA in November showed a hike in the unemployment rate from 23.3% to 30.8% in the third quarter. This was a 7.5 percentage point jump in comparison to the second quarter, making it the highest since 2008.
The lockdown also put a strain on marriages; the divorce rate was 20% higher than normal in the middle of last year. According to experts, some of the unions were already in trouble before it while other couples realised it was not working during the forced time spent together.
And things are not looking up yet. We have just been through the vicious second wave of the pandemic and experts are warning of a third wave in the upcoming winter months. All we can do is to keep adhering to health protocols and take the vaccine as soon as it is available to most of us. The two are our only chances of surviving the deadly virus.
If you were infected by Covid-19 and recovered, be grateful for life. Do that one thing you have always wanted to do because, as they say, life is short. If you lost a relative may you and I find healing as we muddle through life without the ones who were dear to us.
If you lost your job it might seem hopeless right now, but you are still alive, which means you can start all over again. Try starting your own small business this time, it could be your chance to make it big.
I am no expert in marriage as I have never been married, but I have seen how devastating divorce can be to all involved. I will start by applauding you for being brave enough to walk away from what was no longer working for you. My personal belief is it is never too late to start afresh and meet your soul mate (well, that's the romantic in me speaking).
If divorce hit you unexpectedly, at least your former partner was honest enough to walk away when he/she realised they were no longer into you, instead of wasting more years on what was no longer fulfilling for one of you. I hope it works out for you and for your children to manage this storm and come out stronger.
The country recorded its lowest infection rate since November of just over 1,300 cases a day, this week; let's stay safe. I wish you healing, peace and love as we continue to battle what is now clearly going to be part of our lives for much longer than we ever imagined.
• Khamango is executive editor, you can follow her on Twitter @thembelak
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