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.

TO MASK OR NOT TO MASK – A TALE OF 2 COUNTRIES

 Back to SCHOOL with MASKS.

       Let’s stop talking about the “OLD Norm” when wearing a MASK was a FASHION statement. The question today is, “Is mandating masks in public  a violation of human rights?” This brings me to compare 2 countries who have embraced the “NEW Norm” in reopening of schools. Two contrasting scenarios have emerged with views so different, they lie on opposite ends of the spectrum.

        Cities in California, Michigan, Florida and Arizona have mandated the use of masks. A rife in arguments escalated immediately with mask opponents voicing a violation against their first and fifth amendment rights. 
In San Clemente, California, some parents have strongly objected to social distancing and wearing of masks in schools. They say these measure will hurt their children’s well-being. 

         US cases hit record high with 67,632 new cases reported in 24 hours (Thurs 16.7). California reported its second highest single-day increase in cases and deaths just two days ago (Wed 15.7), with 11,125 new cases and 140 additional deaths, but views like:

  😷  “Don’t tell me my kid has to wear a mask, I don’t need to be dictated to tell me how best to raise my kids,”

   😼 “Keep facial expressions visually available,”

   😿 “NO to masks, YES to recess, Let me Breathe,” still prevail in San Clemente.

         In Malaysia, such views will not be entertained. You can "think" it, but that's as far as it goes!!

         By next Wednesday July 22, after 4 months 3 days of home isolation, ALL primary and secondary students aged 6 – 17 years would have returned to face-to-face interaction with their friends and teachers. 

       However, back to school comes with a mandatory implementation of a 36-page school reopening management guideline released on June 4^th.  

     Is there a Right or Wrong here? Teachers measure the 1 metre distance between desks as required in the guidelines.

 Malaysians have “obeyed” social distancing,  wearing of masks and other mandatory guidelines since March 18th. 

         Masks do not stop viral transmission, its function is towards stopping the  spread of droplets from the wearer to others. Use of face masks is now NOT compulsory as transmission of the virus is low, with Malaysia experiencing only sporadic outbreaks. In March, we experienced triple-digit daily new cases, today it has been reduced to single-digit. 
If this is what “obeying’ has produced, I would say “obeying” has had positive outcomes. Do we Malaysians equate “obeying” with perhaps common sense, or is it because we trust our health care sector who better understands the Covid-19 scenario?

If other countries term THESE rules as “violation of human rights,” then 
"TO EACH HIS OWN." I rather be SAFE than DEAD.

    Note: This is not a political piece, but a personal view. 

Acknowledgement: All pictures in this post are from The Star, the people's paper

FEAR NOT, EMBRACE THE POST COVID-19 ERA

           YEAH, Recovery Movement Control Order (RMCO) has started in Malaysia, Wed 10th June - 31st August. Savvy K calls it Relak MCO. During the peak of the coronavirus pandemic, we were forced to live life cautiously and to work differently. I am not saying we should now throw caution to the wind and live life dangerously. We, or rather I personally will have to stop wishing and talking about the “good ole’ days.” Those days before Covid-19 of carefree moving around where the term “social distancing” did not exist, just might not return for a long time yet. 
SO, SNAP OUT OF IT SASSY JAM, you have to accept the NEW NORM, 
to EMBRACE LIFE POST COVID-19. 

           The very first baby step is to learn how to go out into our new world (be it groceries, clothes, eating) without feeling pressured. No one is harassing me, it is myself buckling under the fear of getting infected. So, my friends who are in the same generation with me, yes the BABY BOOMERS, here’s a step 1 - 6 guide to leaving the house without anxiety in Malaysia:

  Step 1: DOWN LOAD THE QR/BARCODE SCANNER/READER into your smart phone.

        PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE, THIS IS OF PARAMOUNT IMPORTANCE. 
 Many of us Baby Boomers will have phones that were produced in the dinosaur era, meaning the QR code reader will not be automatically in the phone apps, unlike the iPhones the Gen X and after are using. The very first time I ventured into the new world, this “amah” (grandmother) choked up the queue as I couldn’t take a picture of the QR code. Thank goodness, Savvy K was with me. She yanked me out of the queue and downloaded the QR code app from Playstore immediately. My friend, Ong Bong, had the same problem (obviously we belong to the same generation), so he just gave his phone to the security guard to figure it out. The guard took a quick look and retorted, “Encik, phone you tak' ada lah, you pergi tulis nama dalam buku.” (Mister, your phone does not have it, go write you name in the book). Ong Bong always wears his age with pride. He just jauntily walked over to the table to manually write his personal particulars. 

So, bear with us Gen X, Millennials and Zoomers, US Baby Boomers are learning.

 Step 2: REMEMBER YOUR MASK. 

          Post-Covid-19, masks are compulsory outdoor wear unless you enjoy being glared at.

        Step 3: QUEUE, SCAN THE QR CODE, FILL UP THE QUESTIONAIRE ONLINE, GET YOUR TEMPERATURE TAKEN. It has been a long time since us Baby Boomers have answered MCQs (multiple-choice questions), but MCQs have return to fashion post Covid-19. Note, there is no answer “None of the above!” like in our school exams, so don’t become "keliru" (confused).

 The queue will start from the car park even before you  enter the shopping mall.

Fill in personal particulars (necessary for contact tracing)

Tick whether you are a shopper, staff , vendor etc. Remember, there is NO "NONE OF THE ABOVE", YOU HAVE TO BE ONE OF THE BELOW!!! Hahaha ...

MCQ 1 and 2 - declare your symptoms and contacts

OK, all MCQs answered truthfully Sassy JAM (my inititals), I can proceed in.

        Step 4: BEFORE YOU ENTER THE STORE OF YOUR CHOICE, SCAN ANOTHER QR CODE and practice social distance in the boxes drawn on the floor while you wait to be allowed in.

        Step 5: GET YOUR HEAD SCANNED AGAIN (MEANING TEMPERATURE), SANITISE YOUR HANDS AND COLLECT YOUR QUEUE NUMBER 

   from the SDO (Social Distance Officer). YES, believe me, a new occupation has emerged post Covid-19. Holding a temperature scanner in one hand and a bottle of spray sanitiser in the other, we have to cooperate with our SDOs.

      Jaya Grocer is the Best, there is a staff who even gives you a pair of plastic gloves before you enter,

and all the plastic bags are already opened. It is difficult to open the bags with gloves on. Just take how many you need. Malaysia must be commended on how strict it is handling the situation to prevent resurgence of the virus.

 Step 5: SHOP QUICKLY. Being “warga mas” (golden/senior citizens above 55 years), we have been given the privilege of going into the shops before the younger generations. Let us not abuse this by taking our time as the young ones need to get their groceries too. The young ones queue in another area from the golden citizens.

We, Baby Boomers have our own priority lanes.

        Step 6. RETURN YOUR QUEUE NUMBER, go home. 

CONGRATULATIONS, YOU HAVE EMBRACED THE COVID-19 ERA.