By Umie Syazwanie Mohd
KUCHING: Sarawakians are generally vigilant against Covid-19 and part of that vigilance is translated into maintaining their cleanliness at all times.
While this is admirable, the constant pandemic news in the media can be exhausting for those who try to keep up with the latest information and finding helpful ways to keep themselves safe.
Take Foodpanda rider, 23-year-old Nurazimah Zainal, for example. She finds it a challenge to stay vigilant all the time so as not to get infected while doing her job.
“I am constantly exposed to the virus as I deal with a lot of people. To protect myself I always wash my hands. When that is not possible, I use hand sanitiser,” she said.
She also sanitises her personal belongings after work, and she makes it a point to take a bath immediately upon reaching home.
Regarding the public health standard operating procedures (SOPs), she insists that people should always comply with them to lower their chances of getting infected.
Mackelery Suring, 24, a master’s student at University Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), agrees with Nurazimah’s way of thinking about the pandemic.
“Personal hygiene and that of the community is very vital,” he said. “When combined with vaccination, infection in the community can be stopped or at least minimised.”
On the frontliners against the pandemic, he said they must be given cooperation by the public who should be obedient and have the good sense of not going to social gatherings and get into other activities that involve many people.
He wants people to say at home if there are no important matters to attend to outside.
“Try to stay away from crowded places. If you must go, keep your distance. Use a face mask and hand sanitiser. In other words, keep the virus at bay,” he said.
Claudia Schiffer Sijamat, a 23-year-old nurse, spoke about the changes in people’s lives as they try to settle into the so-called new norms.
“I always try to avoid what people nowadays called 3Cs —crowded places, confined places, and close conversations,” she said.
She also constantly practises the 3Ws — washing hands with soaps and water, wearing masks and warning people who don’t comply with the public health standard operating procedures (SOPs).
As for the members of her family, she urges them to always stay clean and bathe immediately after work or shopping or attending to other matters. The purpose is to keep the virus outside and kill those that come inside.
