Thread. Long chat with my cab driver yesterday about #COVID19. I requested him to wear his mask and he asked: "ye zaroori hai?" (is this required?). From here on, learned a lot about how COVID is being perceived (from this and other conversations lately).

1. Lots of misinformation flowing over WhatsApp that COVID is not actually a problem. It is overblown and only the urban elite are bothered by it. 2. He is from a village in Punjab. Village elders tell him that this is not a "real pandemic".

"20-30 years back, if there was a pandemic, half the village would die." This does not take into consideration improvements in health infra, overall health, and that previously this was a problem of not getting treatment on time, while now the problem is that there is no vaccine

3. Lots of anger still about the lockdown. People are eager to deny the seriousness of the problem so they can resume their lives and livelihoods. 4. Misinformation that this is "just a fever" seems common as well.

"Har saal ek baar to bukhar hota hai, isme kya badi baat hai?" (Every year I get a fever at least once, what's the big deal here?). 5. "Mask ajeeb lagte hai" (Wearing masks looks strange).

Could be related to (1), an urban elite "trend" and peer pressure from others not wearing them. 6. "Doosron ko bura lagta hai" (other's feel bad), interpreted as: If I'm wearing a mask, the other person feels I am afraid they will infect me. Almost like an accusation.

Lots of misinformation about what exactly a mask is supposed to do. All this, a mix of fatigue, loss of livelihoods, and social pressure are adding up, and so are the numbers. Reached home feeling a little less hopeful. #COVID19India