In a couple of days, we would know if the Movement Control Order (MCO) would be continued or lifted by the government. The Covid19 has sent shockwaves around the world. As I write this, the number of Covid19 cases worldwide is already more than a million, with the US leading the rest. The number of deaths is also increasing at more than 70 000. Thankfully in Malaysia, the increase in the number of cases and deaths is not exponential – kudos to the government and especially the Ministry of Health for responding proactively to contain the spread of the virus – and not to mention the reassuring voice and calm demeanor of the Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin that helped reduce public anxiety.
These are trying times for us. Despite the breakthroughs made by some countries in reducing the number of infected people and deaths, we have to remain vigilant and take all the necessary actions in order to break the chain of transmission. As experts have said, unless a vaccine is readily available, the threats posed by Covid19 are far from over.
So, while waiting for the cure, the standard procedures adopted by most countries are to isolate those who are infected, prevent the spread of the virus through social distancing and encourage a good personal hygiene.
The challenge is how to mobilise government resources effectively in order to contain the virus. It is even more challenging to ensure that people comply with the “stay-at-home” rule. Should government use violence to keep people indoor just like what we see in India? Philippine President Duterte has ordered the police and army to shoot people who break the lockdown rule. Countries may have different strategies to deal with their domestic problems depending on their cultures, values and levels of acceptance towards violent punishment.
There is at least one incident in our country circulating on social media showing a police officer using a stick to punish violators. Is this action acceptable? While the police should be praised for working around the clock to implement the MCO, I personally disagree with the use of force particularly against defenseless violators.
Another interesting thing to see is the way people respond to the crisis, for instance, some would deliberately defy the MCO, giving all sorts of (incredulous) excuses such as going out to buy KFC, sending lunch to wife at work, etc. We have also seen some government officials trying to use the most “creative” ways imaginable to educate people on how to make the most of their time at home, for instance, the Ministry of Housing and Urban Wellbeing Guideline to encourage women to imitate “Doraemon’s voice when talking to their husband in order to avoid an argument. The guideline has since been taken down from the Internet after much criticism.
One minister even went to great lengths by wearing a full personal protective equipment (PPE) suit during a sanitation exercise by her ministry. The minister’s intention to help might be genuine but her action was deemed as an inappropriate publicity galore.
This crisis has also brought out the best in us, for instance, people helping those in need for food, equipment (esp. for the frontliners in hospital) spontaneously or sharing positive gestures to those who have to work to get things moving.
Despite the fears shared by the prophets of doom, I am optimistic that we will get out of this sooner or later.
This is not the first time that the world is wrecked by a pandemic caused by an invisible force. From the Antonine Plague, Cholera outbreak, Spanish Flu to MERS, one emerging trend is that we manage to reduce the rate of death worldwide from infectious diseases.
Time and again, our resilience and ingenuity have helped us overcome our most challenging experiences.
With the vast amount of information available to us and our improved knowledge in medical science and technology, we are in a better position than before to find a solution to this crisis.
At the individual level, the least what we can do is to apply social distancing, adopt a good personal hygiene, and take care of our overall wellbeing.
So let’s be optimistic, share positive vibes and encouraging stories.
Lastly, share hopes not fears.
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