Living in a Coronavirus Stricken World

Photo by Markus Spiske from Pexels

Hi all,

It's disheartening that at this moment, we are in a very challenging period and we're barely even finished with the first quarter of 2020. At first we felt that we would be in control of the situation and there were just a few countries affected, mainly the ASEAN countries, and China being the epicentre, and then it started to become a worldwide situation. Now the Covid-19 outbreak has been declared by WHO as a pandemic as death tolls increase in a matter of short time, affecting faraway countries from China such as US and Europe. Previously governments who had taken the matter lightly thinking that their countries are safe since China is so far, when the virus travelled across the world through social contacts and imported cases, they know this is a very serious matter and drastic measures had to be in place that the citizens have to comply. Travel borders have to be closed and only allowing own citizens to come back but serving stay home notices or to be self quarantined. 

And the problem with the Covid-19 is that the symptoms don't show up immediately when one is to become infected. He or she will only start showing within 14 days of being infected. And that is the scary thing. So when you go to the public places where temperature taking is in place, it is no guarantee that you will be in a place without carriers. Therefore, the message the governments put across to all citizens is to be socially responsible. Please see the doctor when you're sick and don't come to work when you have been given the medical leave like I know some people would still do with the excuse that they have work to do. No, stay home! A little triggered coz I had one colleague like that who still came to work and thank goodness, it wasn't the virus. 

We also have to monitor our health because it's also part of being socially responsible and I don't know how guilty I would feel if I am the super spreader because of my irresponsible act. Everyone has to play a part. 

We too don't want to further burden our pool of healthcare professionals who are facing battle on the ground with the influx of patients. At the end of the day, they are very tired, lonely at times because they can't have meals together and tending to patients day in day out with long hour shifts. Even those not in the medical profession, like cleaners, security guards etc who put in the extra time and effort to make the public places more clean by frequently cleaning and disinfecting the common areas and keeping the crowd under control. 

Many others also feel the pinch, with events being cancelled or postponed as our Singapore government put even more strict measures in place to minimise social contacts and to prevent the emergence of new clusters. Businesses are greatly affected, around the world, with people losing their jobs overnight, falling into financial difficulties and shortages in essentials as people resort to panic buying. It's a nightmare I tell you and while Singapore has not faced a lockdown, we are almost there with many restrictions, because we can still go out with our daily lives such as to work and school although some places have to close until April 30th such as tuition centres and entertainment centres. 

Besides the strict measures, those who have returned from overseas will be served with Leave of Absence or Stay Home Notice, to contain the spread should they be virus carriers. To impose fines and jail term if they flout the rules to show the government is not here to play. Even in public, whether or not we like it, we have to follow the guidelines too when all establishments have to follow the guidelines by marking Xs on seats and tables where you can't sit and limiting the number of people who can enter the shop. If they are allowed to enter, to take temperature and sanitise their hands. 

We start to learn to appreciate these efforts in place and our loved ones as well because we can't imagine being away from them in the event we have to be quarantined. Many health professionals, locally and overseas, can't be with their families due to long hours at work and to prevent the spread of the virus since they are in direct contact. Only God knows what their hearts are going through. For them to be here, in front of us, still healthy and to be grateful that we still have food on the table because in some countries, food is limited because of the lockdown. 

Covid-19 does not spare anyone, from infants to elderlies. It's not true that the many who have died are mostly elderlies. It happens to even those who are in the cusp of their youth so don't take your health for granted, please. 

On an ending note, please practise social distancing and social responsibility, not just for yourself, your family members but for everyone's sake. Together, we can put an end to this pandemic. I know we can.