COVID-19 from an ordinary citizen's perspective

Corona oh Corona! What a year (2020) it has been isn't it. The start of any year is always filled with hopes, desires, resolutions, goals and so on but what 2020 had to offer was the direct opposite of the good things mankind would have dreamed of. 

2020 kicked off with a couple of catastrophic events, the Australian fires and the dead of Kobe Bryant (popular basketball player) in a helicopter crash! What does this mean? Are we all finally nearing towards the end of mankind or the end of the world? I am in no position to further justify but certainly can feed you guys with spontaneous information from a lay man's perspective. 

Just when you think two of the most disastrous events was enough for earth to bare, COVID-19 comes knocking on your door. COVID-19, famously named from its' origins of Corona Virus Disease 2019, is an unusual 'entity' (I'd prefer naming it such) that the world is currently experiencing after it was first found to have developed in the capital of Central China's Hubei province, a commercial centre divided by the Yangtze and Han rivers. 

The entity was so capable and ambitious that it decided to travel across the globe, infecting and have robbed thousands of lives. COVID-19, apart from China, has greatly affected countries across Europe, where high numbers of individuals infected and deaths were recorded. 

Hailing from the Pearl of Orient, Penang, Movement Control Order (MCO) was implemented on 18 March 2020 in the government's efforts to fight COVID-19. MCO is not a total lockdown but certain important measures were imposed to ensure the movement by the public were under control but unfortunately, we live in a society where breaking the rules were more of a norm than abiding to it. 

Other basic measures to ensure public safety and health were frequent washing of hands with soap; sneezing or coughing at the edge of your elbow; face masks (if found to have symptoms), using hand sanitizers as when necessary and social distancing of 1 meter. 

It is definitely not easy to be in this situation, that too after the announcement by the Prime Minister, whereby the MCO has been extended to 14 April 2020 with stricter rules and regulations to follow. It surely is not easy for Penang, a state that garners popularity not only locally but worldwide attraction in various industries such as tourism and hospitality, food, manufacturing and so on. 

It is an unusual sight to see a quiet Penang but look on the bright side, this is an important initiative by the federal government implemented throughout the country for the betterment in terms of safety and security for all. 

During these trying times, I truly hope that the people will eliminate their act of hooligans by practicing panic buying and not knowing they're leaving an impression of disgust throughout the entire world. There will be enough supply of daily needs for all! Think of those who are more needier than you are, idiots! 

On another note, it is a good move to implement markers (social distancing) in public areas such as public markets and providing hand sanitizers for public to use upon arrival and exit from the markets. Although the compliance rate has been improving in Penang where the MCO is concerned, there will always be room for improvement, especially when you have some self claimed extremely smart people who know it all with such a such nasty attitude. Ultimately, it is all in our hands. The more we obey the MCO, the more nearer we get to getting this issue resolved, at least to see a decrease in the number of people being infected everyday. 

We're still better off in terms of deaths and infected cases compared to some other countries that's facing an even bigger problem, so let's just abide to the rules for now which is for the goodness of all. 

At this point in time, my sincere appreciation goes out to all the frontliners from both City Councils in Penang, medical professionals, police and army forces across the globe for dedicating not only their time, but sacrifices of not being with their families but on the ground protecting us. I still see cases where public are being very unpleasant when approached by these group of amazing people. It is not the right thing to do, let's come to our senses for god sake. Let them do their job because now, your arrogance, ego and Mr. know it all attitude should be packed up and thrown to the trash! You go hard on them, you face nasty consequences. Simple as that, folks! 

Another important thing that we should all be doing now is to put aside differences in terms of ethnicity, religion and political beliefs because none of these elements is going to save your ASS but one thing can, UNITY! Is it finally a wake up call for mankind to come together as one? Come on, we're better than this and am sure, we can pull it through by working together. 

REMEMBER, STORMS DON'T LAST FOREVER. 

NEVER MISTAKE A SEASON FOR YOUR FUTURE. 

IT TOO WILL PASS.