This is the first time that the celebration will go ahead without any standard operating procedure (SOP) from the government since 2020, when life as we knew it abruptly came to a halt because of Covid-19.
Even last year, when the situation was slowly returning to normal and the vaccination programme was well underway, the celebration in Sarawak was limited to immediate family members on the first day only with physical distancing and temperature screening still required.
Holding open houses and visiting from house to house were prohibited, while lion dance performances were permitted by invitation only and subject to strict guidelines.
After the restrictions of the last two years, it’s no surprise if people are now celebrating with a vengeance.
Over the last few weeks, the Chinese New Year mood was back in full swing as festive bazaars drew crowds of shoppers and decorative items flew off the shelves.
Those celebrating must also be looking forward to full-scale reunion dinners with their families, opening their homes to friends and visitors and generally getting together for festivities without worrying about limits on space and numbers.
Amid the joy and relief of being able to celebrate freely with friends and family again, let’s not be too quick to discard the lessons learnt from the pandemic.
I’m sure none of us wants to return to the days of lockdowns and MySejahtera check-ins.
But neither do we want to see a surge of Covid-19 cases because we did not take common-sense precautions while merrymaking.
Lest we forget, the SOP of the last two years were there to keep us safe and prevent the virus from spreading unchecked.
It is likely due in large part to these measures, as well as widespread vaccination, that we are where we are today – free to go out without restrictions, not needing to mask up all the time and yes, able to celebrate festive occasions like we used to.
Nevertheless, let’s take a moment to remember that Covid-19 is still around.
The lack of SOP does not mean that we are now free from the virus.
People are still getting Covid-19 and there are still occasional deaths from it.
Malaysia’s transition to the endemic phase basically means that we are learning to live with the virus, not that we have eradicated it completely.
According to Sarawak Deputy Premier Datuk Seri Dr Sim Kui Hian, this also means that individuals must take the responsibility to protect themselves while celebrating Chinese New Year.
“In the last two years, it was the government protecting you with a lot of restrictions.
“Now that we are living with the virus, the responsibility comes back to the individual for self-protection,” he said when asked if the Sarawak disaster management committee would recommend any SOP for Chinese New Year.
Dr Sim said self-protection measures included getting a second booster dose of the vaccine, getting tested if experiencing symptoms and self-isolating if tested positive.
“Individuals with low immunity should wear masks when going to temples or visiting, and everyone should continue to practise hand hygiene,” he added.
These measures should be familiar to everyone by now.
It is common sense, really, to mask up or stay home if you feel unwell and to isolate yourself should you test positive for Covid-19, not only to protect yourself but others too, not least your loved ones.
If there is one thing the last two years has taught us, it’s that we should not take our health for granted.
Don’t let the hardship we endured during the pandemic go to waste.
As we usher in the new year with joy, let’s make sure we celebrate safely so that we can continue to enjoy festive occasions in future.
Already a subscriber? Log in
Get 20% OFF The Star Digital Access
Cancel anytime. Ad-free. Unlimited access with perks.
