Total Pandemonium
I told myself I ain't posting another article about SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) but after almost a month, sadly there is no end in sight. China has come clean on it's total cases involving SARS and it's staggering. Hong Kong is still buried in new emerging cases, right here in Singapore, we are already living in a pre-post SARS conditions.While the world is still come to terms with the extend of this global threat, it saddens me that SARS has not only hit my country, but my neighbourhood as well.
Now it wasn't too long ago (Well about 1 week) when I awoke one fine sunny weekend to find that Singapore's main wholesale centre for fresh vegetables under quarantine. The reason? A number of workers there caught the mysterious virus and became stricken by its ailments. This prompted local authorities to shut the entire centre down for decontamination and to try to control the spread. Needless to say, 2400 people were identified as potential carriers from this operation.
What were Singaporeans' immediate response to this? A fanatic outburst of vegetable buying thats what. It was total anarchy at the local wet market's baskets were swiped clean, supermarket aisles were bare. Every possible form of veggies were all sold out! Even hawkers selling vegetable dishes were not spared, since you can't lay your hands on uncooked ones why not just buy those from hawkers and save yourself the hassle of cooking. (The Singaporean mentality: Everything also want) I remembered my mom coming home from marketing in the afternoon complaining that there were no veggies left. Dinner that night consisted of preserved lettuce and a vast variety of meat.
Anyway fast forward to the following day. The police were alerted to a possible case involving a 72-year old man who worked at the wholesale centre and had since went to see the doctor. But what's the catch you ask? The guy just lives a few blocks down the road!!! Well the story goes like this, his wife had just passed away, case was classified as heart failure. But shortly after that the old man developed SAR-like symptoms as well and consulted the doctor. On re-examination it was concluded that he indeed contracted SARS.
By then he had numerous contacts with people, these included his immediate family, his neighbours and those in the vicinity of his house. The guy covered a wide area, the whole of Serangoon Central was affected. the coffeeshop S-11 was a prime spot which the old man frequented, incidentally the area has been vacated for inspection purposes. But the extend of his actions has already stirred up huge waves of reprecussions. Anyone in my estate could be a potential carrier. I don't even know how safe is it for me to take the public transport now. Of course for those not living here, it's just a trivial matter, but the bottomline is, that this could happen in your neighbourhood too.
Not that I want to drag this depressing piece of news, but I urge all global citizens, regardless of age, race, gender or religion and whichever country you hail from, please be responsible for your actions. If you are down with SARS please play your part by not letting it spread to more people. This is the only way we can only and surely overcome this invisible enemy.
I told myself I ain't posting another article about SARS (Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome) but after almost a month, sadly there is no end in sight. China has come clean on it's total cases involving SARS and it's staggering. Hong Kong is still buried in new emerging cases, right here in Singapore, we are already living in a pre-post SARS conditions.While the world is still come to terms with the extend of this global threat, it saddens me that SARS has not only hit my country, but my neighbourhood as well.
Now it wasn't too long ago (Well about 1 week) when I awoke one fine sunny weekend to find that Singapore's main wholesale centre for fresh vegetables under quarantine. The reason? A number of workers there caught the mysterious virus and became stricken by its ailments. This prompted local authorities to shut the entire centre down for decontamination and to try to control the spread. Needless to say, 2400 people were identified as potential carriers from this operation.
What were Singaporeans' immediate response to this? A fanatic outburst of vegetable buying thats what. It was total anarchy at the local wet market's baskets were swiped clean, supermarket aisles were bare. Every possible form of veggies were all sold out! Even hawkers selling vegetable dishes were not spared, since you can't lay your hands on uncooked ones why not just buy those from hawkers and save yourself the hassle of cooking. (The Singaporean mentality: Everything also want) I remembered my mom coming home from marketing in the afternoon complaining that there were no veggies left. Dinner that night consisted of preserved lettuce and a vast variety of meat.
Anyway fast forward to the following day. The police were alerted to a possible case involving a 72-year old man who worked at the wholesale centre and had since went to see the doctor. But what's the catch you ask? The guy just lives a few blocks down the road!!! Well the story goes like this, his wife had just passed away, case was classified as heart failure. But shortly after that the old man developed SAR-like symptoms as well and consulted the doctor. On re-examination it was concluded that he indeed contracted SARS.
By then he had numerous contacts with people, these included his immediate family, his neighbours and those in the vicinity of his house. The guy covered a wide area, the whole of Serangoon Central was affected. the coffeeshop S-11 was a prime spot which the old man frequented, incidentally the area has been vacated for inspection purposes. But the extend of his actions has already stirred up huge waves of reprecussions. Anyone in my estate could be a potential carrier. I don't even know how safe is it for me to take the public transport now. Of course for those not living here, it's just a trivial matter, but the bottomline is, that this could happen in your neighbourhood too.
Not that I want to drag this depressing piece of news, but I urge all global citizens, regardless of age, race, gender or religion and whichever country you hail from, please be responsible for your actions. If you are down with SARS please play your part by not letting it spread to more people. This is the only way we can only and surely overcome this invisible enemy.
posted by Jecht at 10:30 PM
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