Abstract
Covid-19 is a disastrous pandemic that broke out into the world in 2019, and continued to spread until the date of this paper in 2021. However, the prediction of the onset of its symptoms did not always mitigate its spread. Though it was believed that the highly educated, with their hygienic precautions and health awareness were far from being infected by most infectious diseases, they could not escape its psychological and social effects. This paper aimed to uncover some of the possible reasons behind the infection of five cases from three traditional families chosen as examples to share in explaining the causes of the spread of this pandemic among a vulnerable cross-section of the middle aged and elderly highly educated, where the researcher passed through that experience in Cairo Egypt, since the early of April to the late of May 2021. Through the theory of Jennifer Johnson-Hanks with its application of demographic anthropology perspective, this study highlighted the importance of social and cultural factors in explaining causes and effects of demographic data, in addition to potential solutions as future precautions for that Pandemic.
Highlights
COVID-19 started in late 2019 and outbroke as a Pandemic by the spring of 2020
“Emotional/psychological level” in this study pointed to the feeling of threat one had when others were close to him, and the COVID Phobia the educated had lately suffered from with the rapid increase in infections and deaths of well-known figures, famous stars and close relatives; a fact that could not be denied by governments, as one lived the real and correct numbers of the data that reached the peak of the third wave of the pandemic in Egypt by late of April to early of May, that coincided with the end of Ramadan and the Muslim al-fitr feast. This spread of the disease could be explained by pointing to the consequences of social traditions and Islamic rituals practiced these days; such as group family Iftar, group prayers performed in mosques and the uncontrollable expression of emotions between Egyptians such as kisses, hugging and shaking of hands especially in feasts, which are all against the hygienic precautions of Covid-19, that The Ministry of Health adds propagated in Egypt in this period: “I don’t hug, I don’t kiss, I don’t spread the virus.”
This paper suggested a framework based on the related socio-cultural perspectives of “Demographic Conjuncture” and “Construals” as were expounded in the anthropological demographic theory of Jennifer Johnson-Hanks (2007)
Summary
COVID-19 started in late 2019 and outbroke as a Pandemic by the spring of 2020. Visibly or invisibly it has affected the whole world. “Emotional/psychological level” in this study pointed to the feeling of threat one had when others were close to him, and the COVID Phobia the educated had lately suffered from with the rapid increase in infections and deaths of well-known figures, famous stars and close relatives; a fact that could not be denied by governments, as one lived the real and correct numbers of the data that reached the peak of the third wave of the pandemic in Egypt by late of April to early of May, that coincided with the end of Ramadan and the Muslim al-fitr (ending of fasting) feast This spread of the disease could be explained by pointing to the consequences of social traditions and Islamic rituals practiced these days; such as group family Iftar (the evening meal that Muslims have after their fasting), group prayers performed in mosques and the uncontrollable expression of emotions between Egyptians such as kisses, hugging and shaking of hands especially in feasts, which are all against the hygienic precautions of Covid-19, that The Ministry of Health adds propagated in Egypt in this period: “I don’t hug, I don’t kiss, I don’t spread the virus.”
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
