Three Years

So yesterday the WHO has finally removed the emergency status of the COVID-19 Pandemic. I'm not exactly sure what this means. Some see it as the end of the pandemic, while others say that it's just the removal of the emergency status. AKA countries and governments won't have to treat the disease as an emergency. So the pandemic is still here, technically.

Although I do feel that the world has returned to normalcy somewhere in... 2022? I remember not seeing too many news (as often) about the pandemic, people stopped wearing masks, travel seemed to return to normal, and yes there will be news of cases spiking here and there sometimes in the year.

I kind of have seen this back 3 years ago. Some experts have predicted this is how the pandemic will end. It will not. HAHA. It will just turn into an endemic, we'll live with it just like how we live with the flu and cold. I don't think there's no way we can -completely- eradicate it from earth.

To be frank I don't know how I should treat COVID-19 anymore. Ever since we've lifted the restrictions here, I've stopped wearing mask unless I'm indoor or in crowded places. I do wear mask when I'm sick or unwell too. I guess I have accepted that we're going into endemicity soon.

Don't you think and feel that we've gone "numb" from this pandemic? I think right now we'll just have to make decisions that is for the benefit of ourselves and others. And follow guidelines given from the experts and the government. I'm just tired of living in fear heh.

The past 3 years have been super tiring. It's the strangest and most tiring 3 years for all of us (or maybe 2-2.5, since we've kinda returned to normal in 2022). But things just felt so weird. It felt like we're living in a different reality these past few years. Like we've entered a new world now.

I'm just waiting for the WHO to announce the end of the pandemic. Or to at least tell us that we're gonna live with it. I don't know what's next "medically" and "socially" for us. Perhaps we'll take yearly booster shots, or we'll just maintain social responsibility. But I'm already seeing this waning. I mean I do know people who are showing flu symptoms but are not wearing masks.

When I look at the news I feel bittersweet. I feel happy that we've made it this far. But I also think of the people who had lost the battle. I wish they're still here witnessing the end of this madness. I can't help but think how many lives can be saved, and deaths prevented.

But I guess now we have a new battle going on. We've learned how comorbidities increased the risk of deaths during the pandemic. So I guess now we'll have to enter a battle of preventing and treating chronic diseases. Most (or all) of which can be prevented with a plant-based diet (cough cough) and active lifestyle. So yup, I guess we have a new battle now!

Anyway just give a pat on your back everyone. We've made it this far, despite of the madness and chaos that we went through in the past 3 years. And also just send out love to everyone who had lost the battle. And to everyone who has lost someone. This world is a terrifying place. But we're a tribe that's capable of showing love and kindness. And make this place a slightly better place.