Yet Some Parts of the World Still needed Ear-piercing Alert

The remote districts need more attention and education to win the war with COVID-19 and future outbreak

Due to the high population density and commuting flow, the urban areas all over the world have been greatly impacted by COVID-19. Although some small towns had undergone unimaginable plight, a significant number of the countrysides remained safe and unaffected.

As the two edges sword, the people who suffered from the pandemic tend to keep high awareness on hygiene and social distancing; the people not affected by the epidemic are more likely to cling to the conventional way of living.

Green Area means both safeness and flippant residents whilst the Red Zone consists of danger and vigilant inhabitant.

Human incline to disobey at places where the law is unreachable. Nevertheless, invisible viruses are reachable. Disobeying the rule means more exposures to COVID-19.

I reside in a small town in Malaysia. This particular town has been listed as a Green Zone since the Malaysia lockdown started. The “lockdown” has never been imposed on this area gravely. Aside from the lifeless businesses, people were basically free from movement control.

Human incline to disobey at places where the law is unreachable. Nevertheless, invisible viruses are reachable. Disobeying the rule means more exposures to COVID-19.

I had seen a teenager dismounted from a motorbike, strode toward the cooking-pot, grabbed noodles with his unwashed hands. Startled by his behaviour, an elder scowled at him defiantly. However, his frivolous response indicated the global catastrophe was not playing an important part in his heart.

The town sheriffs arrested some rule-breakers. Alas, two-days detention and 300USD penalty were too light to change the obstinate citizens.

Aside from ignorance, tradition is another impediment. According to the dining custom in parts of Malaysia, dishes are shared by the eaters, particularly within a family. Family members eat meals together without splitting foods to separate containers.

I witnessed an ancestor worship event held by the local during the social movement control. Kinsfolks broke the rule, paid visits to the grandparents’ house, prepared foods for the deceased. The foods were left in the living room, serve as an offering to the ancestor.

And flies.

According to tradition, food should be left uncovered until the stomachs of the forefathers are plumped. Meanwhile, flies attracted by the smell of substances, clustering on the food, dining together with the spirits. The descendants are numb to the flies, and they consumed the offering afterwards.

Governments and organizations should take action to educate people, impose stricter control, arrange online activities to involve remote areas, broadcast the importance of hygiene and social distancing, et cetera.

Sarcastically, all of these happened while a very big part of the world is fighting hysterically to curb the virus. The victims yell out all the agony in their lungs, intend to provide helpful warnings; yet some parts of the world still bound to the deep-rooted tradition and ignorance.

These blindspots make people clumsy to reform, numbed to act, deafened to listen. And, these are the viruses more menacing than COVID-19. In addition, the next pandemic is very likely to sprout up from these places.

Before things get uglier, governments and organizations should take action to educate people, impose stricter control, arrange online activities to involve remote areas, broadcast the importance of hygiene and social distancing, et cetera.

I hope this article could help the world to pay attention to another side of the world, to win the war with COVID-19 and future outbreak.