The world is almost at a standstill as it grapples with an impending tragedy. What started out as the spread of an unknown respiratory virus in a Chinese city most of us had never heard of before has developed into a pandemic impacting the whole world.

The virus is spreading unabated, with Europe being its current epicentre, almost every person in almost every part of the world has been affected. It is a testament to the profoundly interconnected and globalised world we have created that a sneeze in Wuhan, China, can have an impact on every nation.

Ethiopia is no different, and neither am I. Fortunately, I have the rare advantage of being able to work from home, doing my part to social distance since March 15, 2020. Although this pandemic has affected us, and me, in a very personal way, we need to recognise that we have to contribute our part in the effort to curb the spread of the virus.

Each generation has its test. Undoubtedly, this is one of those. But the sacrifices we are asked to pay at the moment, such as personal hygiene and limiting contact with other people, is the least painful to pay.

It is only fitting that our efforts are compounded by the bold measures the government is taking to contain the spread of the virus. While the efforts are commendable, we are in need of more dramatic changes given the vulnerabilities of our healthcare system. Precautionary measures are the only things we have on our side. And this mainly has to do with social distancing, an effective method since the virus does not spread by itself. We aid it.

This means that we have to profoundly change the way we live and connect, especially considering that around a dozen people have tested positive for the disease.

Before this crisis, we were all in our corners of the world, arguing and fighting over almost everything we can think of. Today, humankind and its way of life is put to the test. Our beliefs and socioeconomic structures will be reconsidered. The fact that we have been ravaging the Earth of its resources, that we have turned away from science and knowledge and that we had begun to believe that global solidarity is unimportant have all been proven to be naïve at best.

Today we brace ourselves for what is to come, watching nations with better financial and structural strength barely able to care for their own citizens. It is hard to say what will be awaiting Ethiopia’s over 100 million people.