March 18th 2020 - 2021: ONE YEAR ,

 

let us NOT make it TWO. When our prime minister announced Movement Control Order, (MCO, equivalent to lockdown) last year, 

I did not expect to also witness enhanced-MCO, semi-enhanced MCO, conditional-MCO and recovery-MCO. Sometimes, Sassy JAM had to ask Gizmo Man, “Darling ah, which MCO are we in today?” 

Presently, we are still not allowed to travel interstate without a letter of permission from the police. 

Violators of the MCO and 

other Covid-10 SOPs have to now dig deeper into their pockets, or bank accounts (to be more accurate) 

as compound fines have increased from RM 1,000 in 2020 to RM10,000 and RM50,000. Many may say this is unfair, stupid or a violation of human rights, but NOT ME. 

The pandemic will prolong if people continue to gather in large groups, NOT wear masks and 

NOT practise social distancing.

As ONE year unfolds today, I recall the downside of our YEAR on a lighter mood: 

We were advised to be sure we were only with Covid-19 negative people.

We Asians could not fathom the commotion at the toilet tissue aisles in supermarkets in the West. Diarrhoea is not a symptom of the coronavirus, so why hoard and fight over toilet rolls? 

This obsession even spilled into the cake industry. 

Every country tried to keep their schools open as

we could not afford a Covid-19 lost generation. But in vain,

Malaysian children did not attend school for a year. Classes only resumed on March 2021. 

Just about every one celebrated their birthday at home. The new term “lockdown birthdays” was created.

Mushrooms sprouted from our passports

 as international travel was banned.

 I didn't want to travel but going to buy groceries saw me scanning QR codes before entering any premises, even today.

Alas, even babies born during the year were not spared. 

And for those babies whose parents believe in the Covid-19 vaccine, they may not be spared either.

The vaccine is NOT a magic bullet to stop transmission and make Covid-19 disappear.

 I quote Dr. Tedros, Director General of WHO, “There will be no return to the old norm in the near future.”  

We will have to adjust to this dastardly virus still accompanying us into a new world. We may be pandemic-fatigued. But, with grit and wit, we WILL create some semblance of normalcy and RETURN BETTER THAN EVER.