Several mental health specialists said fami-lies with Covid-19 patients should keep themselves occupied with routine chores that would divert their mind from the disease and its ramification.

Routine activities like clearing the cupboard, organising long-pending paperwork and gardening would help keep their mind off “even momentarily” from the disease.

In almost all families, one or more members have been infected. Some of the members need hospitalisation while those recovering at home worry about their well-being.

“The worry is real and one cannot wish it away. One needs to fill the day with routine activities that keep them distracted,” said psychiatrist Jai Ranjan Ram.

He said there was a possibility of “concentration lapse” and in such situations mundane work would help.

Psychiatrist Rima Mukherjee said it was not possible to feel positive during “stressful times”.

“You do not need to be upset that you are not feeling positive all the time. People who are infected with Covid-19 or have any family member down with the virus, it is difficult to be positive but one has to continue to hope…keep oneself occupied,” she said.

Mukherjee made the statement at a recent interactive session on Covid: Dealing with Anxiety, Fear and Grief, organised by South Point School.

The session was attended by both the teachers and the administrative staff of the junior and the senior schools.

Mukherjee said an occupation or a job could help them stay focused.

“One could do chores that had been piled up for long like sorting out old clothes or solving crosswords,” she said.

Mukherjee said the session was attended by teachers who were “very busy” with their school work during the pandemic.

“It is a blessing because it gives you less time to brood or over think or feel anxious. That is the positive thing about working,” she said.

But while the young or those working can still keep their mind off, the elderly or retired people should be encouraged to do activities that would help them cope with the situation.

“The younger ones in the family should encourage them (the retired or elderly) to take up activities they haven't done for long like practising an art form or simply watching movies... concentration would be low…. Routine activities that do not require too much exertion are better. But engaging in something like that would momentarily take your mind off the fact that we are going through a bad pandemic…,” said psychologist Ruvena Sanyal.

The disease has separated people from their own family as they are left to recover on their own, be it in the hospital or at home.

“One needs to feel connected because that gives a sense of collective resilience that I am not the only one. What we are going through is universal grief and anguish,” said psychotherapist Farishta Dastur Mukerji.