State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi wrote on her Facebook page yesterday that because of COVID, they have been encountering many things to think about and to learn on a daily basis. The most important lesson they have learnt from COVID was the fact that they were forced to train themselves to have boundless vigilance. This was what she wrote:

After issuing rules and instructions with regard to any particular issue, we need to study and assess whether these instructions are suitable and workable.

Not too long ago, we were working towards reopening food stalls after establishing regulations. Some food stalls in Nay Pyi Taw reopened after undergoing inspection. Then a staff member who was alert, energetic and who found much joy in his work went around to three or four food shops to have meals after making his own voluntary decision, not caring if he was having more than his fair share of meals. He thought he had to study the situation. This was an eating survey which was beneficial for us (and not at government expense).

This person was able to give us a full detailed report and assessments because he had experienced it himself. The first thing that gave us satisfaction was the fact that both the food shops and the consumers had the desire to follow the rules and regulations. Of course, there were still some things that needed improvement. Although the workers at the food shops wore masks, there were still some who did not were face shields and gloves. Since these points are very important for the consumers as well as the employees of the food shops, we need to issue instructions again.

Thanks to the staff member, another thing for us to think about is for people who came together to be able to eat together. People come in the same car together. They come together on the same motorcycle. When they reach the food shop they cannot eat together. This is a rule which is not beneficial in the practical sense. We realized that this rule should not have been made. The important thing was to have suitable partitions between the tables to eliminate contact with strangers.

Because of COVID, we are encountering many things to think about and to learn on a daily basis. The most important lesson we have learnt from COVID is that we were forced to train ourselves to have boundless vigilance.

(Translated by Kyaw Myaing)