The impact of Covid-19 in our lives cannot be denied. It has affected in so many diverse. It's so normal for us to wear masks nowadays and it has become a part of our daily clothing wear in school , work and when we are merely going out for a walk. The graph of the Covid-19 cases has been going up and down ever since this pandemic started. Malaysia had also had it's moments with the Covid-19 cases. The amount of cases that contributed to the reason why the government called for a MCO back in 2020 was around 80-110 cases per day.

The first MCO was the strictest of all. This includes no work (only online/work at home), no school, no mall shopping, we were not allowed to leave the house after 8 pm, only one family member was allowed to go and buy provisions and so on.

The graph soon went down and life was almost back to normal around May/June. Schools was then reopened on 22 July 2020. The cases were only 1-20 per day. A sudden spike of cases happened as a result movements during a by election in Sabah. This happened around September/October where 700-900 cases per day was reported. Schools then were closed on 9 November 2020. Inter district travel was not allowed at that time, unless if you have a permission letter to travel from your employer(mainly for working people) or if you have any medical emergencies or a doctor's appointment. Home-Based Learning was then done in order for educational institutions to catch up with the syllabus. This was undertaken nationwide.

Schools then fully reopened on 5 April 2021. Recently the number of Covid-19 cases reported daily has been increasing at an alarming rate, from 1000 to 2800 cases per day.

The following are the number of cases reported in the media above 80 cases per day according to states as of 23/4/2021 :

1. Sarawak - 600

2. Selangor - 539

3. Kelantan - 429 

4. Kuala Lumpur - 344

5. Johor - 102

6. P. Pinang - 92 

7. Sabah - 82

Since inter state travel is not allowed at the moment, the Government should call for a MCO in these states. I'm not saying that the other states are not as important, they are but at the moment we should resolve the ones that are heavily contributing to the rise in cases per day. As a person who lives in Selangor I believe that more stricter measurements should be taken in order to fight off this virus. The front liners are working very hard everyday to help fight off this virus, the government should help them by firstly announcing a MCO in these states. This includes the closing of schools at the moment. 

Many schools nationwide have reportedly have students that has contracted Covid-19. Even then, schools are not closed. Yes, we understand education is important but lives are more important than that. We can always get back on track with our education system but we can never live this life again. When we have a choice between online learning and face-to-face learning, we should always pick online learning especially in these dire times.

Back in 2020, a year ago, all we needed was 80 cases per day for the government to call for an MCO, and let me remind you again that it was the strictest out of all. Now we are facing cases that is 35 times worse that what we faced during the first MCO. These statistics are known by the government and yet they are still not doing anything. Yes they have recently implemented CMCO and inter state travel is not allowed, but if you compare it to what they did a year ago or what they did in November, shouldn't they be implementing something more stricter because the cases are much more higher now ? We understand the economy of the country is not doing well but you can start by closing schools. At least that will help a little bit. We have found that the cases are reduced when schools are closed back in November, so why not do it again this time ?

I am a SPM candidate in the current year and I understand that my exam is on the line if they close schools. But I also understand that my life in on the line when I attend school. I can't be skipping schools everyday. They don't even have online classes for those who don't want to attend schools. I will be missing out a lot. On top of that, schools are having an examination on Monday where every student must attend school and don't you think that that's a very big risk ? Are you willing to risk students lives for an educational report ? To see where each schools academic path is ? That's ridiculous.

Let me remind you that even secondary schools students are not complying to the SOPs, so what makes you think that middle school students will ? My class which consists of 32 students are fit into one classroom. Our tables are not even arranged 1 meter apart. How is there any social distancing there ? Even before heading home students have to line up at the gate and as a prefect that is on duty as that specific area, I have noticed that there's is no social distancing at all. There are even some students that don't bother to wear their mask. How is that safe for the students ? How is that not putting their lives in danger ? Did you not expect the cases to rise when you considered to open schools back up ? Did you think everyone would comply with the SOPs ? Why did you open schools, when you knew that it was risky ? We were already having 1000 cases daily, shouldn't we have waited for the numbers to go down then open schools back up ? Or you could have just sent the SPM and STPM candidates to school. You didn't have to open it up for everyone. Priorities what is important now. Or you could have cancelled SPM and STPM just like what Cambridge International did with IGCSE, O Levels and A Levels. And now with the cases rising, why not let everyone stay at home at the moment. When it's better, let the SPM and STPM candidates go to school first. Ones everything has cooled down and the cases are very less, then and only then you allow the other students to attend school. For now you should fully close schools. Let everyone learn at home. Lives are more important than education.

Yes I understand that some places like "kampung" areas don't have access to internet but there's always a way. You can always get sponsors to sponsor devices for these students or you as the government can do so too. Just like what Syed Saddiq did when he provided laptops for the students that didn't have one in order for them to join these online classes. It is not impossible. It fact there is so many other ways to resolve that problem. It is my view that the government should take immediate step to close schools considering the gravity of the pandemic.