Dear Diary,
Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob said small and medium enterprises will soon be given the green light to reopen. Some sectors are already operating on full capacity.
While this is good news, bear in mind what happened to Hokkaido in Japan.
It lifted its lockdown on March 19 when new cases fell to single digits but suffered a new wave of infections which forced another shutdown.
The Movement Control Order (MCO) is not to eradicate the coronavirus but to stop it from spreading too fast. So please stay safe as we haven’t found a cure yet.
Meanwhile, although I have a penchant for Vijayakanth memes, I can’t recall ever watching any of his or Rajinikanth movies.
I also haven’t watched Bollywood classics such as ‘Bobby’ and ‘Kuch Kuch Hota Hai’ – which drove Malaysians of certain ages, wild.
Blasphemy, I know.
The reason I bring it up is because Bollywood veteran Rishi Kapoor of ‘Bobby’ fame died today and many Malaysians are mourning.
Here’s how Day 44 of MCO unfolded.
8am: JOHN PRINE BREAKS THE INTERNET – 90.3 WPLN Nashville Public Radio held a radio wake for John Prine – who died on April 7 from Covid-19 – and received such an overwhelming response many had trouble connecting to its website and app. Here’s the recording.
10.13am: MY CAT THINKS THIS – Received this many times last night and early this morning.
11am: CURE HOPE – Covid-19 patients on the antiviral remdesivir have recovered 30 per cent faster than those on a placebo. The US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases cautions it can’t yet be considered an outright cure.
12.18pm: REST IN PEACE – News of Rishi Kapoor’s demise breaks, and with it, the hearts of many of his fans.
1.01pm: INK RUNS DRY – BluInc Media Sdn Bhd announces it is ceasing operations of its print and digital entities. Among the publications in their stable are CLEO, Cosmopolitan, Female, Harper’s Bazaar, Her Inspirasi, Her World, Jelita, Malaysian Women’s Weekly, Marie Claire and Shape.
Separately, BBDO, a worldwide advertising agency network, has closed its Malaysian office to focus on the China market.
2pm: GREEN LIGHT SOON FOR SMIs – Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob says small and medium industries will be allowed to operate soon but stopped short of naming a date.
He also clarifies that although two members of a family are allowed to travel together, it is advisable only one purchase groceries while the other waits in the car.
3pm: TIME WASTERS – Here are some ideas to do at home.
4.38pm: TWO MORE DEATHS – The death toll rose to 102 with two fatalities today. There were 57 new cases – 25 imported – which bring the total to 6,002. The good news is that 84 patients were discharged, bring the number of those cured to 4,171.
5pm: MAIN SHAYAR TO NAHIN – This one goes out to all Rishi Kapoor fans.
