Dear Diary,
Today is the 21st day of the Movement Control Order (MCO). We have seven more days unless the government extends it further (which seems likely).
Whatever the date, can you imagine the nightmare scenario when MCO ends?
There will surely be massive traffic jams everywhere as those in their hometowns make their way back. Will they be able to get back to work or school on time?
Down the line, don’t expect any open houses for the foreseeable future as medical experts warn against mass gatherings for at least six months. This will surely change how we socialise. Also, no concerts while sporting events are likely to be played behind closed doors.
Food operators expect a two-week to month-long extension forbidding dine-in customers after MCO while cinema operators need to reassess seating arrangements as not everyone would be comfortable seating next to strangers in the coming months.
But it’s not all gloom as someone sent me this lovely message: “You’re not stuck at home. You’re safe at home.”
So please stay at home and the sooner we can go back to living a ‘normal’ life.
Anyway, here’s how the day unfolded.
7.13am: BLESS YOU – The magnificent seven helping to sew personal protective equipment.
7.59am: GRIM MILESTONE – There are now over 10,000 deaths in the United States. Meanwhile, Saudi Arabia imposes 24-hour curfew in major cities.
8.10am: BE KIND – British Prime Minister Boris Johnson spends the night in intensive care after symptoms worsen. I’m no fan of his but some of the comments on social media have been vile.
8.30am: THANK YOU – Melawati FC footballer Afif Najmi Muhd Izwan, who is an AirAsia pilot, was quoted in a news report saying his most memorable moment is not scoring goals but flying 55 Malaysians home from Teheran, Iran, on March 21.
9.36am: SAY WHAT? – How Indonesians see the lockdown.
11.26am: GREAT LEADERSHIP – New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern takes action against health minister who visited a beach despite the country being on lockdown.
Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin should be just as bold with some of our ‘honourable’ (cough, cough) ministers.
11.46: SAFE FEELING – Former colleague Gwen Manickam shares how her friend, Michelle Wong’s takeaway came with a temperature checklist.
12.18pm: LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS – Please read this glorious thread and understand why we should stay at home.
1.37pm: NO EASTER PARTY – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has extended until April 30 a partial lockdown of the country. The enhanced community quarantine which Duterte declared in mid-March was to end on Easter Sunday.
2pm: LOCKDOWN – The Selangor Mansion and Malayan Mansion flats in Kuala Lumpur are placed under an Enhanced Movement Control Order (EMCO). Several roads in Kajang will be closed from tomorrow. Senior Minister Ismail Sabri Yaacob also reveals 403 people were arrested for disobeying MCO on Monday, bringing the total to 6,451. Meanwhile, 537 were charged in court yesterday. The good news is there has been a 70 per cent drop in the crime index.
3.59pm: SHAME – Kyle Walker faces never playing for England again over his £2,000 (RM10,680) sex party during the coronavirus lockdown.
4.22pm: MAGIC – National diver has a trick for you.
Magic trick with my niece. 😆😂#magic #trick #revealed #stayhome pic.twitter.com/NQaOHHTsUf
— Leong Mun Yee (@AngelaLeong) April 7, 2020
5.30pm: CLOSE TO 4K – Health director-general Datuk Seri Dr Noor Hisham says 170 new Covid-19 cases were reported bringing the total number of cases in Malaysia to 3,963. One new death was recorded bringing the death toll to 63.
6pm: GOMBAK HILLBILLIES – This put a smile on my face and somewhat suppressed the blues. Well done.
