From the editor:

Uncharted territory.

LIFE IS anything but normal at the moment. I’m working from home, as are most of you, and right now I’m looking out the window at a completely deserted street. There are no cars, no pedestrians, just a few birds flittering about. If it wasn’t for the unprecedented event that’s turned our lives upside down, I’d say things were all rather peaceful and pleasant. But, they’re not.

With the rampant spread of COVID-19, we as a nation – well, a global community – have just endured two or three surreal weeks, and I know that it’s far from over. I also know I’m not alone in the emotions I’m feeling. As I write this, the South African population has just started the first day of its strict national lockdown, which is aimed at curbing the rampant spread of the virus. Indeed, humanity is up against something we haven’t encountered in a very long time – certainly not in our lifetime.

A number of weeks will pass before this magazine issue is printed and you’re reading my letter, and a lot is going to happen during that time. I can only hope that as the days and weeks pass, we’ve managed to flatten the infection-rate curve, and our lockdown has achieved what we need it to do.

The effects of this pandemic will be far-reaching, from both a publichealthand economic perspective, and it’s going to take an immense effort from all South Africans to steer our country back to where we need it to be. But, amid all the uncertainty, there’s one thing I’m definitely sure of. South Africans have what it takes to unite, to fight for our collective progress, and to achieve great things. We may be tucked away in a remote corner of the globe, but history has shown that we can be a positive example to the world, and I have no doubt that we can be that again.

As a sign-off, on behalf of the Popular Mechanics team, I want to express our gratitude to all of the health workers who are on the front line, and those in other essential professions. Your efforts are deeply appreciated.

popularmechanics.co.za