Disclaimer: In Real Life is a platform for everyday people to share their experiences and voices. All articles are personal stories and do not necessarily echo In Real Life’s sentiments.
Cases have been rising again recently, hitting new records for the highest number of cases for this new year. Within a span of days, we have gone from a few thousand to over 20,000 positive cases in a day!
With businesses now mostly open and life slowly going back to the way it was pre-pandemic, there’s only so much you can do to prevent yourself from catching the virus.
We’ve compiled a few tips on how you can best keep yourself (and your loved ones) COVID-free:
1. Get your booster if you haven’t already!
Although we quickly got a large number of people vaccinated, we’re still lagging behind on booster rates. A few days ago, it was reported that “not even 58%” of the adult population have gotten their booster shots.
Omicron, the variant currently ripping through Malaysia which is responsible for our sudden spike in cases, is highly infectious. The current phase of the pandemic that we’re in has been described as: “if Delta was the pandemic of the unvaccinated, Omicron is the pandemic of the unboosted”.
Getting your booster shot is one of the best things you can do to protect yourself. If you’ve been waiting on an appointment on MySejahtera and have yet to get one, you can walk-in to any PPV in Malaysia to get boosted.
2. Ventilation matters
Going out is nice, especially when you go stir-crazy at home. Unfortunately, it’s also the best way to catch the virus. But you can take some steps to avoid it. If the choice is up to you, do remain outdoors if that’s an option. This is the best time to enjoy al fresco dining!
It’s best to go to places that are well-ventilated. Air-conditioning does not count as good ventilation, unfortunately, as it circulates indoor air.
3. Choose a good mask that actually fits your face
The goal is to have any air that you’re inhaling go through your mask first to filter out COVID-19 particles. And no, your average surgical mask isn’t the best option – unless your other option is going without a mask.
Good disposable masks can be expensive in the long run, but you can reuse them using this method: just keep your used mask in a paper bag labelled with the day of use and leave it for a few days.
It’s important to wear a mask that fits your face just right. I personally prefer the KF94 mask because of the shape of my face. It’s a little expensive, but I rotate my masks using the paper bag method mentioned above.
It’s also necessary to wear your mask properly so you can reap its full benefits. There’s little point in wearing a mask and then letting it slip down your face every few minutes.
4. Wash your hands regularly and don’t touch your face
Although the virus is mostly transmitted through respiratory droplets, it is possible for it to spread through the mucous membranes in your eyes, nose and mouth.
Hand washing technique is also really important to learn: please don’t just splash your hands with water and call it a day. You should wash every surface of your hands, including between your fingers, your palm, the spaces under your nails, and your wrists. Proper hand washing will take you about 20 – 30 seconds. Some say that this is about as long as the happy birthday song sung twice, but pick any bop you like and go to town on your hands with some soap.
5. Test regularly, before outings
This includes meetups with friends and family members. Fortunately for Malaysians, the price of self test kits is fairly cheap. However, due to the rise in demand, the prices have gone up a fair bit. They are readily available online and you can buy them at marts and pharmacies.
If you can, it helps to have a stock of kits at home so you can test yourself regularly. It is the best and most responsible way to assure yourself of your health, and to reassure those you will be meeting throughout your day.
Of course, self test kits are not infallible, but it’s the most accessible way to determine if you have caught COVID or not.
MySejahtera also now allows you to update your status with self test kit results, so that’s neat!
6. Look after your physical and mental health
Try to get in some activity for your body at any point during your day. Some light stretching after waking up, a quick walk in the evening, anything.
It’s tempting to focus solely on your physical health, but your mental health also matters. The pandemic has forced lots of us into long periods of isolation – we no longer have regular days of going out and socialising. It’s rare for most of us to enjoy the company of our loved ones often nowadays. Just imagine what sort of impact that could have on your mental health, even if you’re a hardcore introvert.
Some find that picking up a new hobby or skill helps, others love zoning out to music or a new series. Don’t forget to keep in touch with people you love – even if you don’t see each other as frequently as you used to, it really helps to have some sort of social contact.
We’re all sick of COVID – but we can’t really afford to allow COVID to spread through our communities
Many people are vulnerable to the effects of COVID, especially its long-term effects. COVID has been referred to as a “mass disabling event” as it has left many of its victims disabled.
Let’s continue to do our best in keeping ourselves and our loved ones safe and healthy!
For more stories like this, read: Are Malaysians Getting Complacent About COVID-19?, The Race Of Vaccination And Regulations Against COVID-19 – Is Malaysia Really Doing Its Best?, and I Got COVID-19 And All My Malaysian Boss Cared About Was Whether I Could Work.
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