When the novel coronavirus infections first emerged in China towards the end of 2019, most of our populations were oblivious to those news. There might be some who were concerned and kept track of the developments there. As the situations there started to deteriorate rapidly and turned into an outbreak, more people came to realize the impact of that disease. Then by end February more and more people became concerned. By March, our country joined the others that had their shares of infected persons. Our first case happened to be an American of Myanmar origin, who recently returned from the States.
Enough anti-bodies
That set off the alarm and many came to get interested in the disease. Even then most were not very much concerned about it yet. Some even wrongly believed that we are immune to that disease because of our diets, which was a very ridiculous idea spread on the social media by some irresponsible persons. I don’t deny that our people may be more resistant to the virus than others for some medical reasons, such as having enough anti-bodies in our blood that can fight the virus. However, that remains to be proven scientifically, so we shouldn’t ignore the fact that we are also vulnerable to it and shouldn’t take risks.
The growing numbers of people who are found to be infected are testament to the fact that we are not totally immune to the disease. Thus, we must be concerned about it, but not alarmed. Because overly alarmed could lead to panic and even to phobia and cause undesirable consequences.
When the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic was first recognized, some of those who are alarmed by it started demanding for total lockdown and even objected, on the social media, to the move by the authorities to bring back students from Huebei and to receive the returning migrant workers. At the same time there were heated arguments on the social media concerning those matters between those who have relatives living and working abroad and those who demanded for total lockdown. In reality to totally lockdown or not to, is the responsibility of the government to decide. Totally locking down is easier said than done, as there are many factors to take into considerations. Even in rich countries that would be quite difficult, let alone our poor country where most of the populations are still living below the poverty line. Most have to rely on their daily earnings for their livelihoods. The total lockdown would greatly inconvenience them.
Anyway, we are witnessing that the authorities are calmly and smoothly handling the pandemic efficiently until now and believe that they will continue doing so. What this indicates is that the authorities are well planned and prepared to face this dreaded disease well beforehand. Rational and unbiased persons will recognize the fact that our country — the government, the military and the public — are doing a relatively great job compared to other neighbouring countries. When it was really necessary the majority of the population cooperated by listening to the request to stay home to minimize the spread of the disease. There weren’t many cases where force had to be used to make people stay home unlike in some of our neighbouring countries, people voluntarily complied. These attitudes are quite commendable.
A pre-new year event
Thingyan is an occasion for celebrating and rejoicing as it is a pre-new year event and at the warmest time of the year the water throwing provides a very welcome relief from the weather. Everyone, young and old enjoys Thingyan, but this year people suppressed their desires to enjoy it li. To achieve that there was no need to strictly enforce it, but the public is well aware of the consequences and abide by the ad hoc instructions not to celebrate Thingyan that would attract crowds. There may be some isolated cases, like the one in Kyaington, which could be blamed on drunkenness. Hopefully, this year’s Thingyan will pass without any eventuality.
Those who had followed the unfolding of the Covid-19 outbreak in China might notice that the numbers of those infected and deaths increased at a very fast space. While those figures were increasing, so were the numbers recovered soaring. Though not a medical professional, based on my meager knowledge gained from the past pandemics that was a very encouraging sign. The more people recovered the stronger the “herd immunity” or the “community immunity” grew and will definitely assist in the fight against the disease. If one would study China’s recent experience closely, it will be seen that they took drastic actions. They immediately lockdown the city at the epicenter and quarantined those suspected of being infected, built a new hospital to treat those infected in about a week’s duration. The selfless dedications of their healthcare providers and rapid response teams also contributed much to the efforts of battling the outbreak.
The most important fact is the pattern of the progress of the disease. In the beginning, the numbers of those infected and died climbed very fast, while those recovered increased slowly. After sometimes the rates of the infected and deaths slowed down, while those who recovered gradually increased. Eventually the infected and deaths reached their peaks and started to decline and not very long afterwards, the battle against the virus was almost over in a matter of few months. Based on that trend, we shouldn’t be alarmed at the rates of increase of those infected and those who died, because at one point, sooner or later, they must peak and then start to decline. Soon it will all be over and the situations will return to normal. Here, though we shouldn’t be alarmed we must be concerned and cooperate unreservedly in the fight against the virus by following the requests, advices and orders laid down by the authorities and stay healthy.
Lubricated mechanism
From my personal perspective, the authorities are coping well with the situations and the medical staffs and other affiliated organizations are functioning smoothly like a well lubricated mechanism. Even in countries like the US, UK and some European countries they are barely coping. If what one Myanmar doctor working in England said on the social media was true, the UK authorities are considering stopping treatment for those who have very little or no chance of recovering to spare equipments and medicines that are in short supply. Let us hope that such situations will never be encountered here. Even if such a situation occurs, there is no one to blame, but the nature. After all, such pandemics had happened many times before in the world and they were deemed as the natural disasters.
In conclusion, I would like to borrow the quote “People are the key”. That is so true. If the people are united and stand together with the authorities, nothing is impossible. It is no time to be criticizing, condemning and blaming one another, nor it is time to be lobbying or propagandizing or instigating unrest. If you don’t want to cooperate step aside, don’t sabotage! Let us forget our past differences, discard our long held hatreds and grievances based on past histories and stand united to fight this dreaded killer disease and move in unison towards a united, peaceful and prosperous Federal Democratic Union. Stay home, stay focused, stay positive in mind, stay away from the virus and be healthy and safe.
By Khin Maung Myint
