Battle against our invisible enemy

Malaysia has loosened its guard against an invisible enemy in the first wave of coronavirus outbreak (COVID-19) in early 2020. We got frightened at first, however, sooner we accepted the truth and learned how we could avoid it along the way. We slowly adapted to the new norm: stay home or go out with a face mask and frequent hand sanitisation. 

The second wave came back shortly with the very first lockdown known as MCO enforced. Most industries closed, the streets were so empty and silent that only strays wandering for leftovers. On the bright side, this was the right time to bond with family with the famous Dalgona coffee and burnt cheesecake introduced via social media. On the other hand, it was a headache for those who enrolled in various instalments. Nevertheless, this was a good opportunity which couldn't be more suitable to show us that savings are of utmost importance for surviving the pandemic.

The third wave resulted from the Sabah election had come back stronger. Together with the mutant variants brought back from abroad, our daily cases and the death toll had continued to break their highest record and brought the already exhaustive national healthcare system to collapse. Frankly, 2021 has been the darkest year in my life. Every day, I woke up without motivation and scrolled through social media flooded with various tragedies and heartbreaking stories due to COVID-19. All this had put me in anxiety where I hardly sound asleep in each long night, not to mention those nightmares I had when I did. 

Different versions of MCO came into effect and shone red light on my research works until further notice. Each time the gahmen announced a different MCO, we need to apply for the permits to access the same old research facilities, worked for a limited time and repeated the flow. Yet, all these changes made did not seem to curb the spread of COVID-19 but worsened.

In times of crisis, some people bite the bullet and seized opportunities while others pushed themselves to their limits. It was heartfelt to have seen we people stood unitedly to help each other along the way. Indeed, the food bank event was something I can proudly brag to my friends from other countries. 

Perhaps it's time for us to coexist and live with it. Else, it would take forever to see the sunshine behind the storm. With hope that the herd immunity that is soon achieved will play its part, our country shall return to its pre-covid era if everyone adheres to the regulated SOPs, or maybe not. 

This once-in-a-lifetime pandemic can be translated into a bedtime story for my kids in the future. First thing first, I must stay alive until then. The battle is not over yet, the struggle is ongoing, and it's most likely another long haul. 

Time to pick up the pieces and move on. Nothing can be brought to the future but recording what has been going on for the past one and a half years is the least I can do.