Covid19 crisis

CB measures

This is not expected when the year started. Agree?

You and I. Everyone.

For 2020, I thought it would be a good year of opportunities, gatherings, travel trips and so forth. But the covid19 virus which originated from Wuhan province in China, has thrown everyone off track.

Governments worldwide implemented extreme measures such as border controls and lockdowns. As a result, economical activities are seriously affected. Businesses suffered. People are urged to avoid travel trips of all sorts. There is an extreme low demand for air travel. Flight services are suspended infinitely. Many people are having financial difficulties due to changes in jobs. Unemployment figures are also going high.

Everyone is forced to stay at home at all times, including students and workers of non-essential services. For workers, they are required to work from home. As for students, they are now told to do home-based learning, with school assignments to be disseminated via emails or online learning platforms. This is to further break the transmission of the covid19 virus spread within communities or at public places to bring the number of confirmed cases down further. This is also to ensure that the healthcare workers at hospitals are not overwhelmed too much. Celebrities and politicians turned to social media and traditional media outlets to urge people to stay at home at all times for protection.

For essential service providers such as supermarkets, shoppers are required to put on masks, undergo thermal temperature screenings and observe safe social distancing rules.

Many places including tourist attractions are eerily quiet like ghost towns.

Nobody knows when the covid19 global pandemic ends. This could go on for many months.

In Singapore, we are now in the midst of the circuit breaker period which started on Tuesday 7 April and ends on Friday 1 June. (For further details, please visit this webpage link – Things You Need To Know About Singapore’s Circuit Breaker Measures.) It is Day 20 of 56 days.

Fighting and coping with this coronavirus outbreak is not just a physical or medical challenge but it is also a psychological one as well.

Health experts and psychologists in Singapore acknowledge that this ongoing battle with covid19 virus could potentially affect the well-being of some Singaporeans particularly the elderly folks.

Taken to the extreme, it could make them anxious, depressed or even fearful.

While the current climate is challenging for everyone including myself, resilience, community spirit and positivity can go a long way in mitigating these difficulties. It is important to get support from family, friends, and large community like employers and Government. Thankfully there are support schemes like the recently announced Resilience Budget unveiled by Deputy Prime Minister as well as Finance Minister, Mr Heng Swee Keat.

Our Government understands that Singaporeans will face some financial difficulties, hence the Monetary Association of Singapore (MAS) has had announced measures that allow individuals to apply to their banks or insurers to defer payments of property loans as well as premium payments for insurance plans. Assistance schemes are also introduced to help small and medium-size enterprises in Singapore.

Yes indeed, this ongoing covid19 crisis has created a combination of economic and financial instability. We are all experiencing a severe disruption of habit and normal structure of our daily living.

While the media can provide useful and factual information, I think too much of information could also create confusion and panic among members of the public particularly the seniors. They might need help in digesting the information and understand how these news impact their lives.

For family members, we can spend some time to explain these government policies to them.

Presently, I am a worker of essential services so I still need to travel to work via public transportation during the circuit breaker period. There could be an arrangement from my employer to work from home, if necessary in upcoming months.

Yes, I feel inconvenienced by these restrictions but I understand that this is something which I have to bear with for now.

For our loved ones who could be experiencing stress and anxiety, there are ways for us to help in resolving these issues.

It is important that we continue to be connected to our social communities so that we have avenues of support, be it online or over the phone. Interacting with others through technology – such as making voice or video calls instead of texting and emails – can also help to reduce that feeling of loneliness and isolation.

We need to remember that while safe distancing measures could suggest lesser face-to-face interactions, it does not mean isolating ourselves from our own social circles. It is important to share with people whom we trust about our concerns and feelings.

Call these helplines if you need emotional or pyschological support.

Singalong Singapore

There was a mass singalong activity last night (Sat 25 April) for Singaporeans who are home-bound. Sing Together, Singapore!

It was a gesture of thanks and support to frontline and migrant workers. Everyone was invited to sing National Day 1998 song “Home” which is composed by Dick Lee and sung by Kit Chan.

Singaporeans waved torchlights or mobile phone flashlights at their windows and balconies. Cheering and applause could be heard during the rousing performance that was broadcast on various platforms, including SPH Radio, MediaCorp TV channels and social media. I also joined in the singing as well! 🙂

The song was performed by Dick Lee, singers Rahimah Rahim, Shabir and other personalities, alongside with a 900-strong choir from non-profilt arts groups Voices of Singapore. (For more info, please visit this webpage – Singalong to Home on April 25 to express thanks to frontline and migrant workers.)

Singaporeans are invited to upload their singing videos on social media platforms, hashtagging #singtogethersg, #singforsg #stayathomesg. A second music video, a compilation of selected clips of Singaporeans singing along to the song, was edited and telecasted several hours later, at 10.30pm.

Some online critics said this initiative is pointless but I disagree.

Singing gives the feeling of camaraderie. Community and unity.

Psychological defence is important too. That sense of belonging, and the feeling of going through tough times together, would somehow motivate us Singaporeans to look out for one another, and help the needy ones.

Let’s be kind to one another.