LIFE WITH COVID-19
It’s a totally different world now compared to just a few months ago
About a week ago, the government of Malaysia announced that the lockdown (or Movement Control Order, MCO, as what it’s called here) would see a more relaxed approach as to the previous 2 months. They called it the Conditional Movement Control Order (CMCO) and the reason is so that more economic sectors could reopen and more people could go back to work.
As it stood, there were close to half a million Malaysians who lost their jobs during the first 2 months of MCO and if it continued for another month or so, the estimated number of people who could end up jobless was about a million.
The government, not wanting to see that happen decided that the CMCO could help people go back to work, but at the same time, still have that little bit of a lockdown strictness to it. People are still encouraged to stay at home as much as they can and only go out if they have to work or to get essential items like groceries, etc.
However, because a lot more people are now going out and going back to work, the challenge now is for people to adhere to the new normal and honestly, it’s much needed and fully required that we welcome in the new normal into our lives amidst having to live with COVID-19 for the unforeseeable future — at least until a vaccine is found. But even so, experts are saying that we need to brace ourselves with the fact that COVID-19 could well be living amongst us forever, just like some of the other diseases we have at the moment.
That’s why the new normal needs to be practised all the time from now on.
What is the new normal? Well, it’s basically what we have been doing (well, most of us anyway) since the pandemic started. We need to:
- Always practice good hygiene like washing our hands with soap as much as we can, especially after touching things. Always wash your hands with soap or wipe it clean with a wet wipe before you touch anyone else or even your own face.
- Always wear a mask when you’re out. Although health experts are saying that the virus is not airborne, nor do you need to wear one if you’re not sick, but if you can, you should. There have been quite a few cases of people testing positive for the virus despite not showing any symptoms. These people are known as asymptomatic and could easily spread the virus around to others. The danger is that you won’t know that they’re sick because they won’t show any symptoms. That’s why it’s good to still wear a mask. You may think that you’re not sick but in reality, you could be. It’s not just so keep yourself safe but to keep others safe as well.
- Always practice social distancing. Social distancing will now have to be a common thing. When you’re out and about, try to keep a distance of about 1 metre from those around you, especially when you’re lining up or queueing up. That’s when people would usually stand pretty close to you and may end up accidentally touching you — which is something you won’t want. This too would have to be practised at other public areas such as restaurants, cinemas, etc. where you would need to sit far apart from others around you. Until a vaccine is found, this will have to be the new normal.
- Minimize touching as much as you possibly can. No longer should you be shaking hands or hugging with your friends or family members that you don’t live with. As with the asymptomatic people, you could be passing or getting the virus without knowing because either you or the person you’re shaking hands/hugging with may be asymptomatic and carrying the virus without showing any symptoms.
It’s not going to be easy adjusting to the new normal but it will be necessary. And not just now while there are no vaccines for COVID-19 but possibly longer as we hopefully start to build herd immunity towards the virus.
Whether we like it or not, life as we know it is going to be pretty different from how it was just a few months ago. The entire world as we know it is going to be different from how it was just a few months ago. How we adjust to it will determine how we move forward as a species. Seeing as to how highly contagious this virus is, we have to continue to be vigilant and hope that we don’t cause a third or fourth wave of infections.
It’s time we start getting used to the new normal — for our sakes and all those around us. Let’s do our part and move on with life in the new normal.
I Am Benny Lim 