COVID-19: Almost WW III

It was December 31 last year when I learned about this strange virus spreading in Wuhan, China, in an Asahi Shimbun online article. It seems almost nobody paid attention to it then.

In January and February, people still took it as something that should not be as severe as SARS. Then, the virus, which would be known as Covid-19, started spreading worldwide. People simply stopped moving, disrupting their everyday lives and business activities. And of course, affecting my own business so severely.

Late last month, all night-life establishments, such as bars, clubs and karaoke lounges, were ordered to close until the end of April. Like all other places where people gather, I found a 1-meter-distance order was enforced at the Thomson Plaza supermarket.

Last Wednesday, I went to the SingPost branch in Bishan just to buy stamps for two letters to Japan. The number of people allowed inside at one time was restricted to three.

And today (April 3), the prime minister of this country announced that this close-down order would be extended to all workplaces, except those considered essential to people’s lives, like banks and restaurants. All other workplaces will be closed down on Tuesday next week, April 7, for a month. As I believe, restaurants will be allowed to serve only their “take-away” customers.

And at another supermarket tonight, I found a long line of people who queued up to enter it with a 1-meter distance, before and behind, and anther long line with the same distance to the cashiers to pay.

We should expect these close-down orders may be extended further. THIS IS AN EXTRAORDINARY PERIOD AND ALMOST LIKE A THIRD WORLD WAR.