A Quiet Chinese New Year

It is the month of February. The month of Chinese New Year (CNY) and Valentine’s Day. But it will be a very much quieter affair for many of us Asians.

The ongoing covid19 pandemic has created a big blanket dampener on all CNY festivities across Asia including Singapore. To stem the spread of the covid19 virus which has now mutated into different strains, governments across the region has imposed restrictions on inter-district travel, cancelled CNY bazaars, and tightened entry and quarantine requirements for incoming travellers and residents.

Singapore is at Phase 3 of Safe-Reopening its economy.

In Singapore, Singaporeans are told that households are able to receive a maximum of 8 visitors per day, and they should limit themselves to visit no more than 2 households per day as much as possible, with effect from 26 January 2021, in view of the upcoming CNY festivities. For the first time, there will be no CNY bazaar in Chinatown this year. Kindly refer to this Singapore Ministry of Health update (22 January 2021).

This is a pre-emptive measure imposed by the Singapore Government, given that there is a recent increase in the covid19 cases in the community, and the fact that there could be a possible risk of transmission during the CNY period. This is seen in the number of cluster cases happened during CNY last year.

For extended families, it could be a problem for them, as in how to arrange CNY visits. For many, it used to be a group of 20, 30 or even 100 people coming together to Grandpa or Grandma’s residence on Day 1 or Day 2 of CNY, doing a big reunion dinner activity and exchanging of red packets.

I believe the same is for the westerners/Europeans when they do Christmas or ThanksGiving occasion. However in the name of “personal freedom”, many of them ignored government pleas to stay at home, pushing ahead with their travel plans to go visiting friends and families last December, thus resulting in a disastrous surge of covid19 cases or fatalities in the weeks thereafter.

Countries in Asia including Singapore want to avoid this terrible irreversible mistake. Hence that big dampener. We Asians are generally brought up with a moral mindset of being considerate to others, placing the importance of social responsibility above self. In short, we are instilled with a sense of community in our minds. Most of us Asians are more a law-abiding group because we could understand the full big picture of the currrent health pandemic.

In Singapore, the general public is constantly reminded via TV ads and recorded public messages via public transport to put on our masks at all times (except eating/drinking/exercising), washing our hands, monitoring own body temperatures, and observing safe social distancing rules. And yes, we will see doctor if feeling unwell, and will stay at home as much as possible. By doing so, we are protecting ourselves and the people around us as well.

In the course of my work, I respond to enquiries from people in other nations on the border restrictions/entry requirements into Singapore. Many of them want to visit Singapore.

We are presently tightening border controls, given that there has been a steady but mangeable number of imported cases among incoming travellers.

Singapore is presently suspending Reciporal Green Lane (RGL) arrangement with Germany, Malaysia and South Korea. This is for business/official trips to and from Singapore.

All other incoming travellers are imposed with a stay-home notice period while awaiting results of their Arrival PCR test taken at Changi Airport. If a positive case is detected, he/she will be immediately referred for further medical treatment/isolation in hospitals so that there is no chance of the infected person spreading the virus to the community at large.

At the same time, Singapore is proceeding ahead with its covid19 vaccination exercise for the population.

For some of us including myself, our grandparents have had passed on. CNY visits have become smaller and lesser. For the younger ones, families become smaller too.

Oh yes, dragon dance performances are not allowed. As for lion dance performances in public areas, some lion dance troupes are allowed to do so. For those interested, you could refer to this news report on covid19 restrictions on lion and dragon dance during CNY in Singapore this year.

For elderly folks who are longing for a big family reunion dinner, they will be disappointed. But most of them understand the rationale behind the move. Reunion dinner via Zoom? Arranging a CNY visitation time schedule? Giving of red packets electronically? Or creating smaller meet-ups over meals/drinks at restaurants or cafes than at home?

Chinese New Year 2021 is definitely going to be very quiet one. For me, that’s for sure.