Mask up, Covid-19 cases are rising

Trishaw riders were among those in the tourism industry badly affected by the pandemic in Penang. —Filepic

We need to take the lessons of the pandemic to heart and not let our guard down

LEST we forget, hotel workers set up stalls by the roadside to sell takeaway meals during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Lest we forget, many journalists gave money and bought meals for penniless trishaw riders in George Town.

People lost their jobs. Shops closed down. Friends and family members died.

Much has been learned from a public healthcare perspective following the pandemic.

Indeed, communities worldwide have undergone significant changes in how they go about their daily lives.

In the early stages, we adopted new norms such as physical distancing.

Although this is no longer required, many people still practise some of the precautions such as masking up.

This may be due to various factors, including awareness of the ongoing risks of Covid-19 and for additional protection against other respiratory illnesses.

The use of masks continues to be an effective way to reduce disease transmission, and many countries and communities still embrace this practice as an additional preventive measure.

This is good as the virus seems to be making a comeback.There is a big spike in Covid-19 cases in the country, but the Health Ministry has assured that the situation is under control.

The increase, although small, might have dire consequences, economically and emotionally, if we do not heed the lessons learnt.

We don’t want another pandemic that could cause people to lose their jobs and businesses to close again.

The government could spend billions in eradicating infections while seeing revenue drop due to a slowdown in the economy.

Working during the pandemic has given me a great deal of knowledge on how the virus could affect one’s life.

And sometimes, I too have to be reminded that wearing a mask is important especially when having a cough or cold.

But I see that many of us seem to forget that Covid-19 is still here.

We forget the advice from experts earlier, that Covid-19 is here to stay, and we have to learn to coexist with the virus.

We have forgotten the importance of masking and practise physical distancing to avoid contracting the disease.

Many have forgotten that standard hygiene practices are crucial to preventing Covid-19.

Fighting misinformation about the virus is another matter that we must pay attention to.

Misinformation during the pandemic impacted people’s decision-making across various aspects of their lives, especially health.

Certain social media platforms have now introduced features redirecting users to accurate information from reputable health organisations when engaging with content related to the coronavirus or vaccines.

Addressing misleading or false social media posts by loved ones can be a delicate task, but it should be done.

As responsible citizens, we must be critical of information we get from various sources.

Having a booster especially for the elderly and those in other high-risk groups, is important.

The pandemic has taught us about taking care of our mental health and adapting to change.

Although the situation continues to evolve, it is important for us to remain vigilant and adhere to health guidelines issued by the authorities.

Through this we can minimise the risk of transmission and protect ourselves and our communities.

Time to mask up, folks.