Dear Diary,
The Movement Control Order (MCO) has been extended by another two weeks. While many are suffering from cabin fever, let’s look at some important facts.
We are on track as the fatality rate in Malaysia is below 2%, lower than the world average of 5.8%. The recovery rate is at 38 per cent and the discharge rate 43 per cent. We have the MCO to thank for that.
If we can continue staying at home and obeying the rules, hopefully, the MCO will be lifted (sooner rather than later).
Some industries – to be announced soon – can reopen for business under strict guidelines. I wonder if Decathlon can open one or two days a week as it may encourage some people to work out at home. Need to buy some new games too.
Here’s how Day 24 of the MCO unfolded on this Good Friday.
8.09am: WHERE’S A BREAD MIRACLE WHEN YOU NEED ONE? – Jesus fed 5,000 with five loaves of bread but the last of the Butterscotch bread I bought yesterday afternoon disappeared faster than a minister’s TikTok challenge. Hypermarkets should allow customers to buy at least two loaves so we don’t have to go out often.
8.45am: GET ME OUT OF HERE – I think my cat Elsa is telling me to stop eating baked beans.
9.37am: PUMP IT – Engineers in Maryland, United States, are taking a novel approach by converting unused breast pumps into much-needed ventilators.
10.44am: MCO BODY – How I foresee myself when it ends.
12.01pm: NO CRITICS ALLOWED – Veteran Umno wants KPJ Damansara Specialist Centre to sack Dr Musa Nordin over his criticism that Health Ministry director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah is not doing enough for our frontliners.
2.17pm: HIGHER FINES – Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaacob says the government may increase the fine for MCO violators as the current RM1,000 rate is lower than other countries. He said in Singapore, violators will be fined S$10,000 (RM30,492) for the first offence and S$20,000 (RM60,984) for the second offence from April 17 while in South Korea the compound is RM30,000.
4pm: WE EXPECTED IT – Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin warns the war against Covid-19 is far from over as he announces another two-week extension to MCO (until April 28). He hints it may not be long enough and says we might not be allowed to ‘balik kampung’ for Hari Raya. Schools to close for a longer period.
4.45pm: PLACE TO HANG OUT – COMM-UNITY, derived from the words ‘communication’ and ‘unity’, is a free digital media platform that aims to unite people by fostering a strong community spirit during MCO.
5.30pm: CONTINUE STAYING AT HOME – 118 new Covid-19 cases today, bringing total number of cases to 4,346. The Health Ministry announced three more deaths bringing the death toll to 70.
6pm: THE OLD RUGGED CROSS – Something by Jerry Lee Lewis for this Good Friday.
