LETTER: It is heart-breaking to learn about the current situation in India where the number of cases and deaths caused by the Covid-19 virus has skyrocketed.
Last Sunday, 3,689 coronavirus deaths were confirmed, with nearly 400,000 new Covid-19 cases reported across India.
This is believed to have started in recent months where thousands of people attended the Kumbh Mela religious festival, political demonstrations, lavish weddings, and cricket matches against England.
To make matters worse, India's oxygen supply and health facilities are insufficient to accommodate the number of patients admitted. Unfortunately, it was also discovered that the India's 'double mutant' Covid19 strain has been detected in our country.
The B.1.617 version was first discovered in India last December, and the World Health Organisation (WHO) has classified it as a "variant of interest" with enhanced transmissibility potential.
Making things worse, the present occupancy rate of essential beds in the Sungai Buloh, Kuala Lumpur, Ampang, Serdang, and Tengku Ampuan Rahimah Klang hospitals has surpassed 70 per cent, demonstrating the gravity of the situation.
Nonetheless, it is disappointing to see and hear that many Malaysians, including celebrities, do not practise social distancing and hold events without following proper SOP regulations.
Some naive Malaysians also believe that the number of cases is a fictitious figure. Many Malaysians also appear to be less vigilant when visiting bazaars and shopping malls with their families.
What happened in India should serve as a cautionary tale for us, as we might be next. As a result, we should practise social distancing and stop going to crowded areas for the time being.
It is difficult not to see our family members for years, but we must stay positive and support one another to stop the spread of Covid 19. The only option left now is to stay safe.
Nadzrah Sa'Adan
UiTM, Johor
The views expressed in this article are the author's own and do not necessarily reflect those of the New Straits Times