The Day The World Stopped
Today marked the 18th day I've stayed at home. Which is about half a month. Another 2 weeks to go. The school holiday started before the announcement of MCO. So for those ordinary working people today would be the 14th day of #stayathome. I don't know how do you feel but it is not as easy as I thought. Being not able to go anywhere and the only place you can stay is at HOME.
Our Prime Minister announced the nationwide lockdown on 16th March in response to the ongoing spread of Corobavirus. We were instructed to stay at home as mush as possible except for picking up essentials. The reason government enforced the movement restrictions was because of the sudden increase of Coronavirus positive cases in Malaysia. A sudden spike in Coronavirus infections was due to a gathering of Islamic missionaries at a religious event. Estimated 16000 attendees including foreigners from around the region. Drastic social distancing measures, including closure of schools, religious congregations and certain non-essential business are required to prevent a wider national emergency.
Initially we had a relatively low number of coronavirus and appeared to have well managed the situation but we lose our grip.
There's a panic buying in Malaysia even before PM made the announcement. I guess it was because the public saw a sudden spike in new cases. I was in Ipoh Aeon that afternoon when PM made an announcement that he will make a special announcement on the Coronavirus at night on 16th March. Long queues were seen at the counter with people loading dry goods into trolleys and emptying shelves as fear grows that the government could implement lockdown measures to combat the infection rate.
So on that night, it was not a surprise when PM announced the MCO from 18-31 March. However, its sudden announcement initially caused public confusion which led to unnecessary crowds at the police stations (many police stations were swarmed with people seeking the approval letter to leave for another state), and public transit as well as panic buying at groceries and supermarkets.
The MCO also has led to numerous public gathering events to be cancelled or postponed, including weddings as well. My friends, John and Jessie both are the victims for this MCO. Their long awaited wedding has to be cancelled.
All the schools were in their one-week holiday during the announcement of MCO and now has been extended to 31st March and now again extended to 14 April after government has decided to extend MCO for another two weeks. This has been predicted as there were so many new cases has been reported on the first week. So, for school teachers and students, instead of one week school holiday now we have one month holiday. It doesn't seem to be a happy thing. I think everyone would prefer to go back to their daily routine. Not only teachers and students but EVERYONE.
I am a homebody and I thought it would be okay for me to just stay at home and I would have enjoyed it. But it was only for the 2nd week I already felt bored. We have lost so much freedom to move anywhere we desire. The moment we stepped out our house we have to put on mask, carry hand sanitizer everywhere we went and we will do whatever precaution steps to avoid catching the virus. It is funny but the fact is everyone is worried. This is a pandemic that we have never faced before. We never expected our lives to change drastically due to a virus spreading not only here but also around the world.
This pandemic is not just a pandemic. The unprecedented Coronavirus is a global economic catastrophe too. Social distancing is also an economic distancing. People were told to cease going to stores, restaurant, to workplaces. A sudden stop in the economy has caused an unprecedented rise in unemployment too. This is an economic tsunami.
When the virus goes away all the countries have to face the scary economic reality too.
This is 2020 crisis. This is world crisis.
Our Prime Minister announced the nationwide lockdown on 16th March in response to the ongoing spread of Corobavirus. We were instructed to stay at home as mush as possible except for picking up essentials. The reason government enforced the movement restrictions was because of the sudden increase of Coronavirus positive cases in Malaysia. A sudden spike in Coronavirus infections was due to a gathering of Islamic missionaries at a religious event. Estimated 16000 attendees including foreigners from around the region. Drastic social distancing measures, including closure of schools, religious congregations and certain non-essential business are required to prevent a wider national emergency.
Initially we had a relatively low number of coronavirus and appeared to have well managed the situation but we lose our grip.
There's a panic buying in Malaysia even before PM made the announcement. I guess it was because the public saw a sudden spike in new cases. I was in Ipoh Aeon that afternoon when PM made an announcement that he will make a special announcement on the Coronavirus at night on 16th March. Long queues were seen at the counter with people loading dry goods into trolleys and emptying shelves as fear grows that the government could implement lockdown measures to combat the infection rate.
So on that night, it was not a surprise when PM announced the MCO from 18-31 March. However, its sudden announcement initially caused public confusion which led to unnecessary crowds at the police stations (many police stations were swarmed with people seeking the approval letter to leave for another state), and public transit as well as panic buying at groceries and supermarkets.
The MCO also has led to numerous public gathering events to be cancelled or postponed, including weddings as well. My friends, John and Jessie both are the victims for this MCO. Their long awaited wedding has to be cancelled.
All the schools were in their one-week holiday during the announcement of MCO and now has been extended to 31st March and now again extended to 14 April after government has decided to extend MCO for another two weeks. This has been predicted as there were so many new cases has been reported on the first week. So, for school teachers and students, instead of one week school holiday now we have one month holiday. It doesn't seem to be a happy thing. I think everyone would prefer to go back to their daily routine. Not only teachers and students but EVERYONE.
I am a homebody and I thought it would be okay for me to just stay at home and I would have enjoyed it. But it was only for the 2nd week I already felt bored. We have lost so much freedom to move anywhere we desire. The moment we stepped out our house we have to put on mask, carry hand sanitizer everywhere we went and we will do whatever precaution steps to avoid catching the virus. It is funny but the fact is everyone is worried. This is a pandemic that we have never faced before. We never expected our lives to change drastically due to a virus spreading not only here but also around the world.
This pandemic is not just a pandemic. The unprecedented Coronavirus is a global economic catastrophe too. Social distancing is also an economic distancing. People were told to cease going to stores, restaurant, to workplaces. A sudden stop in the economy has caused an unprecedented rise in unemployment too. This is an economic tsunami.
When the virus goes away all the countries have to face the scary economic reality too.
This is 2020 crisis. This is world crisis.
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| In trouble time we instinctively turn to nature:so lets turn |
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