Malaysia went into a partial lockdown from today until 31/3/2020.
What it means is that while people are free to move around, they are strongly advised to stay indoors. Malaysians should only go out to buy daily necessities.
However, Malaysians are not doing so.
Look, I belong to the minority that finds this fear wildly exaggerated and blown out of proportions. Lots of diseases are always spreading constantly and people are dying on a daily basis from something as mild as a flu. It is not announced because when something happens on a daily basis, the people lose interest and it therefore is not newsworthy. Just look at H1N1 in 2009. People were so scared, and Malaysia reported deaths daily, until when the deaths reached 80+, MOH just decided to stop reporting because the virus had spread out of control and people were dying at a pace too quick to tally. After all, interest and fear waned, and live went back to normal, even though the virus was still spreading and people were still dying from H1N1.
The same is happening now. The difference is there was no social media then, and even though the situation was actually much worse in 2009, this social panic did not occur.
COVID-19 will spread uncontrolled, and people will die. But we just have to wait until the psychological fear subsides. It is not a matter of whether this will happen. It's when.
In Singapore, despite skyrocketing cases, people already move out and not wearing masks. Because what matters here is psychology.
Plus, evidence points COVID-19 is on the same severity as H1N1. It isn't like SARS, or MERS (which I believe majority of people do not know about). Hence, it defies logic that the same outbreak involving virus of the same severity entail two wildly different public response.
Yet, again, I recognise I belong to a minority.
We live in a society. That being said, we therefore would have conflicts and difference in opinions.
It's true that while the majority of us would just display mild symptoms or even asymptomatic, there are people who have grandparents at home that are highly vulnerable. While the vulnerability exists even before COVID-19 spreads, and thanks to COVID-19, the awareness is much higher although stupidly displayed, it doesn't mask the fact that they can still catch the virus and die.
Therefore, it is essential you remain at your home when this partial lockdown is announced.
Don't be selfish.
We may disagree with the action, but bear in mind there are a few who really cannot catch this virus.
I don't like this order, in fact, I do not agree with this order at all. But since it already is being enforced, and if staying at home can prevent even one death, then just stay at home.
So please, just stay at home.
You don't want this lockdown to be extended.
By then, our economy could also be so badly brutalised, we cannot go back to pre-COVID-19 level.
The world is already in a mess, just be patient for 2 weeks.
Malaysians, please stay at home.
I'm not worried about how the virus is going to kill. I'm extremely concerned about the psychological toll it has on people.
Wednesday, 18 March 2020
Sunday, 15 March 2020
COVID-19: Why Worry Only Now?
People have been sharing awareness on social media, reminding and essentially, in a subtle but clear-cut way, warning everyone to take on the mantle of social responsibility by avoiding crowded public areas, informing that not displaying symptoms does not mean you're not a host to the virus.
It's good.
I mean, I agree with all this information. It's stupid to deny that they're true, not especially when the death toll has climbed so high and the new cases skyrocket all around the world, with the epicentre now shifted to Europe.
However, my question is: why now?
Why are this information only shared now?
Look, I get it. Thousands have died from COVID-19. New cases soared everywhere and this forcibly shuts many cities around the world and disrupts world economy on an unprecedented level.
But as healthcare professionals have warned repeatedly when panic buying infects the society, taking care of personal hygiene and all these social responsibility messages are something you should be doing ALL THE TIME. Why, exactly, in the thick skull of majority people's mind, makes you think this is the only time you need to do exactly that?
People die everyday. Everyday, thousands of people die from diseases from existing microorganisms, some of which already have a cure, and majority of them could be easily avoided.
The annual seasonal flu kills at the very least 80,000 people worldwide.
Non-transmittal diseases, like chronic diseases, and car accidents, misshaps, unforeseen tragedies, strike everyday. Why aren't awareness spread when all these are omnipresent?
Look, I'm not against practising all these things. But I guess I'm surprised how people have been so ignorant of ever-present existing threats on a daily basis that it saddens me to realise that it takes a new virus to slap people awake from the slumber.
COVID-19 mortality rate is not even higher than dengue. So far, dengue has infected 25,000 Malaysia to date. People still throw rubbish in the drain and clog it so that water can be left stagnant and breed aedes.
COVID-19 mortality is hardly more deadly than car accidents that could leave also a psychological impact. Yet, people in Malaysia still do not know how to use their signal lights. For all you idiots who say car accidents are avoidable and this virus is not, let me remind you accidents are called accidents because they are not foreseen and happens without warnings and therefore they are not avoidable. You can be careful and not hit anyone person's car, but you could be the victim of another person's mistake. You can be careful and it could reduce the probability of getting one, but there's nothing that says you can't land yourself in one. Just like the virus, you can try to avoid it, but the virus lingers on surfaces for a few hours and you cannot possibly tell where they are. Somebody may sneeze on a table in the cafe and you may sit on it a few hours later and touch the table and then touch your food. If you're gonna tell me I'm stretching it with my fancy imagination, let me tell you all these happen out of probability, of which this is one.
My point is all these risks are present on a daily basis. Just because COVID-19 is spreading it doesn't mean you couldn't get yourself a nasty dengue and die from it. Stop being obsessed with COVID-19 and start taking care of your health by watching out for all diseases. Just because COVID-19 is spreading doesn't mean you wouldn't die from other causes the next day. So wearing a mask now guarantees some safety? If you don't know how to throw away the stagnant water in the flower pot you could get dengue of die of something nasty later. The morgue isn't invented only now to cope with COVID-19.
Avoid crowded areas when you're sick is what you should be doing all along. Not just when COVID-19 is spreading. If you have fever, even if it's just seasonal flu, just stay home. It's good right now you realise you could spread it to someone who would just manifest mild symptoms but spread it to vulnerable old people with compromised immunity. I just hope you remember this one year later when COVID-19 would most likely stay common among the community and when people stop caring about it.
Remember H1N1 in 2009? All the hype then, only to have it still spreading among the community 11 years later and people already stop giving a shit about it like it does not matter now. You gonna tell me all these 11 years you've been stocking yourself with hand sanitisers and masks? Don't kid yourself - I know for a fact nobody is doing that, else why is the demand spiking now even though H1N1 is continuously still spreading?
It's good this awareness is spreading now. Let's see when people start getting comfortable and forget all this advice and go back to being a jerk that goes to the office when they're sick.
And also, wanna bet by then COVID-19 is still spreading?
This is going to be a 2nd H1N1 - people give so much shit and panic when it starts spreading. But after a few months....nah.
The gist: practise social responsibility all the time. Not only now. People forget very fast, and soon nobody cares anymore. Shame. It's a real shame it takes a new virus to slap people awake. It's like everyday only PROTON gets into a car accident, then suddenly a BMW gets into one, and everybody starts using signal light and buckle up. I'm not downplaying COVID-19, but I find it curious people downplay all other diseases that are existing and spreading at the same time.
Hypocrites. Hypocrites everywhere.
It's good.
I mean, I agree with all this information. It's stupid to deny that they're true, not especially when the death toll has climbed so high and the new cases skyrocket all around the world, with the epicentre now shifted to Europe.
However, my question is: why now?
Why are this information only shared now?
Look, I get it. Thousands have died from COVID-19. New cases soared everywhere and this forcibly shuts many cities around the world and disrupts world economy on an unprecedented level.
But as healthcare professionals have warned repeatedly when panic buying infects the society, taking care of personal hygiene and all these social responsibility messages are something you should be doing ALL THE TIME. Why, exactly, in the thick skull of majority people's mind, makes you think this is the only time you need to do exactly that?
People die everyday. Everyday, thousands of people die from diseases from existing microorganisms, some of which already have a cure, and majority of them could be easily avoided.
The annual seasonal flu kills at the very least 80,000 people worldwide.
Non-transmittal diseases, like chronic diseases, and car accidents, misshaps, unforeseen tragedies, strike everyday. Why aren't awareness spread when all these are omnipresent?
Look, I'm not against practising all these things. But I guess I'm surprised how people have been so ignorant of ever-present existing threats on a daily basis that it saddens me to realise that it takes a new virus to slap people awake from the slumber.
COVID-19 mortality rate is not even higher than dengue. So far, dengue has infected 25,000 Malaysia to date. People still throw rubbish in the drain and clog it so that water can be left stagnant and breed aedes.
COVID-19 mortality is hardly more deadly than car accidents that could leave also a psychological impact. Yet, people in Malaysia still do not know how to use their signal lights. For all you idiots who say car accidents are avoidable and this virus is not, let me remind you accidents are called accidents because they are not foreseen and happens without warnings and therefore they are not avoidable. You can be careful and not hit anyone person's car, but you could be the victim of another person's mistake. You can be careful and it could reduce the probability of getting one, but there's nothing that says you can't land yourself in one. Just like the virus, you can try to avoid it, but the virus lingers on surfaces for a few hours and you cannot possibly tell where they are. Somebody may sneeze on a table in the cafe and you may sit on it a few hours later and touch the table and then touch your food. If you're gonna tell me I'm stretching it with my fancy imagination, let me tell you all these happen out of probability, of which this is one.
My point is all these risks are present on a daily basis. Just because COVID-19 is spreading it doesn't mean you couldn't get yourself a nasty dengue and die from it. Stop being obsessed with COVID-19 and start taking care of your health by watching out for all diseases. Just because COVID-19 is spreading doesn't mean you wouldn't die from other causes the next day. So wearing a mask now guarantees some safety? If you don't know how to throw away the stagnant water in the flower pot you could get dengue of die of something nasty later. The morgue isn't invented only now to cope with COVID-19.
Avoid crowded areas when you're sick is what you should be doing all along. Not just when COVID-19 is spreading. If you have fever, even if it's just seasonal flu, just stay home. It's good right now you realise you could spread it to someone who would just manifest mild symptoms but spread it to vulnerable old people with compromised immunity. I just hope you remember this one year later when COVID-19 would most likely stay common among the community and when people stop caring about it.
Remember H1N1 in 2009? All the hype then, only to have it still spreading among the community 11 years later and people already stop giving a shit about it like it does not matter now. You gonna tell me all these 11 years you've been stocking yourself with hand sanitisers and masks? Don't kid yourself - I know for a fact nobody is doing that, else why is the demand spiking now even though H1N1 is continuously still spreading?
It's good this awareness is spreading now. Let's see when people start getting comfortable and forget all this advice and go back to being a jerk that goes to the office when they're sick.
And also, wanna bet by then COVID-19 is still spreading?
This is going to be a 2nd H1N1 - people give so much shit and panic when it starts spreading. But after a few months....nah.
The gist: practise social responsibility all the time. Not only now. People forget very fast, and soon nobody cares anymore. Shame. It's a real shame it takes a new virus to slap people awake. It's like everyday only PROTON gets into a car accident, then suddenly a BMW gets into one, and everybody starts using signal light and buckle up. I'm not downplaying COVID-19, but I find it curious people downplay all other diseases that are existing and spreading at the same time.
Hypocrites. Hypocrites everywhere.
Tuesday, 3 March 2020
Lady Gaga - Always Remember Us This Way
How is it possible I did not know this song existed?
If there's anything I like in a song, is there it has to be full of raw emotions. And as a Gaga fan I did not know this existed?
Sunday, 1 March 2020
RIP Democracy Malaysia, 01/03/2020
R.I.P Democracy in Malaysia. Your stint is short-lived, barely even 2 years, but you'll be very sorely missed. We'll try to revive you when the next general election comes. I'll be part of the effort, and will strive to make sure it succeeds.
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