It is good news for many countries that the COVID-19 pandemic situation is gradually improving, with the number of patients consistently decreasing, even though it is not yet 100% normal. This has led governments to start easing lockdown measures that were previously implemented to control the situation.

In Thailand, the lockdown of various places is being lifted gradually, assessing the situation according to the plan that the number of patients is not increasing. Everything should return to normal soon.

However, the improving situation and the hasty easing of restrictions have made many people complacent, returning to their normal lives as if nothing had happened. This includes engaging in outdoor activities without precautions, not wearing masks, not maintaining social distance, and traveling to crowded places during long holidays, despite no guarantees that COVID-19 has truly disappeared or that it won't resurge significantly, a lesson that many countries have already learned.

In the past, there have been cases of patients who have recovered and tested negative but still carried the virus, resulting in positive test results again. Importantly, it is also possible that those who have previously been infected may have immunity and show no symptoms while still being able to spread the virus, especially among working-age individuals who are healthy and must go to work every day, encountering many people. This poses a high risk of a second wave of COVID-19, which could be worse than the first.

For instance, in China, the situation improved to the point where the government reopened the country, but this led to an increase in new infections, all of whom were travelers from abroad. In Japan, they had previously controlled the number of infections, but in Hokkaido, as they began to ease restrictions, new cases surged rapidly, prompting authorities to reconsider maintaining strict lockdown measures. Singapore also experienced a similar situation; after appearing to control the number of cases, new infections spiked alarmingly, primarily among migrant workers.

This data shows that returning to normal life while the situation is not yet 100% normal poses a high risk of a second wave of COVID-19. A key factor is that the public lacks sufficient discipline to take responsibility for the collective good and does not adhere to the measures requested by the government. Even though the government has eased restrictions, we cannot let our guard down, as we cannot predict whether a resurgence will be more severe and harder to manage than the first wave.

Therefore, if we want to return to normal life quickly, it is essential to rely on the cooperation and unity of people across the country, including discipline, adherence to disease control guidelines, self-protection, and responsibility for the collective good. The lockdown in the past has significantly impacted many people.

If we have to start lockdowns again and live like this for another year, not only will the country struggle, but the citizens will also suffer. If we cannot return to normal life, the economy will deteriorate. Each country's government must bear the burden of implementing various relief measures, and it is uncertain how long they can sustain the situation.

SOURCE: www.tonkit360.com