Generation C19
Growing Up In A Time of Covid (Danielle Choo)
In this time of COVID-19, the situation in the world is somewhat unprecedented. Most countries are in lockdown and some businesses have stalled. Physical contact with others is banned and breaching stay home notices has serious consequences. It is hard not to be scared and wonder when the world will become "normal" again. Even more worryingly, anyone you ask probably doesn’t have an answer. I am especially concerned about this pandemic, which has been escalating for months, because my father is a doctor working hard on the front lines. Many people have been hit close to home as well, having...
Frontline and Faultlines (Cassandra Pee)
February 2020. It is 12a.m. The sign reads: Mask Distribution, this way. The tables and chairs have been arranged, and the queue lines have been set out. There will be a lot of people tomorrow. Please only wear masks if you are feeling unwell, Minister Chan Chun Sing said on TV. “Why are you only giving us 4 masks? How is that enough?” “My family has 5 people, so you give me 4 masks means you want one of them to die is it?” “Can you guarantee that I wear this mask won’t get virus?” Sorry, sir - // March...
Guiltily Content (Bevin Ng)
First, the lizard, in the heat crusted room: laptop on one side and monitor on the other, its arms splayed out like mine, only it was plastered on the wall and I, stuck with a film of sweat, was on the floor. We’d just finished a long meeting. I’m going to let you go because lizards eat cockroaches. It seemed to notice my attention and skidded across the wall into the grey gap between the door. When it rained at last, I heard its rhythmic croak, I'm here I'm here. Then I noticed the ants, little red ones - not...
Life As An Asymptomatic Patient (Woo Wee Meng)
I read so much about the amazing ways our healthcare system and public service have been standing up to the test of COVID-19 while I was in the UK, and I got to witness them first-hand. I flew back to Singapore on 25 March and was one of the last batches that could still serve my Stay Home Notice (SHN) at home. My entire flight was given a thorough medical assessment, including a nose swab, and I was cleared to go home. I was informed later that my test was positive and was escorted to the National Centre for Infectious...