This is "Heightened Alert'

I think the entire country held our breath when the residents living in a HDB block in Hougang Avenue 8 and another in Pasir Ris St 51 were all swabbed in an urgent COVID-19 mass testing exercise. The residents weren't slapped with any quarantine order at that point, but the results could mean a complete lockdown of these blocks. Sure, we could get delivery of food and such. But. What would happen to the dogs who need to be walked? Luckily nobody else got infected and nobody's worst fears came to pass. 

To be honest, the government can close the whole damn country and I'll just hibernate. (Yes, I recognize my privilege.) I'm the most sian when the parks, dog runs and outdoor spaces are closed and cordoned off. Those are the only safe spaces around right now, as compared to indoors or air-conditioned areas. The government stinks when they can't decide what to do and they treat us like children — like we can't follow instructions to not gather and crowd. You know what? It's indeed so. People run amok. We can't have nice things.  

Then the country heaved a sigh of relief when the government announced that no stricter COVID-19 measures were necessary for the now. When the Prime Minister gave advance notice that he was addressing the nation, we figured it would be a positive thing. He indicated that restrictions are on track to be "relaxed after June 13", which meant that restaurants and food centers could possibly open for dine-in customers, but nothing was said about capacity limits, and the Task Force grimly reminded us of that. They said that any case can become a super spreader event. Of course lah, look at our living density. DOHHHHhhHHH. 

I blinked again when PM used 'Heightened Alert' in describing our current thing from May 19 to June 13. Oh, is that what this is?! 'Phase 2: Heightened Alert'. Hahahaha. The friends schooled me — it's also shortened to 'P2HA'. Okaaaaay. Obviously I haven't been reading. So what's the next round of not-lockdown / not-Circuit-Breaker gonna be called? 'Phase 2: Reinforced Perimeters'? 

I got my first jab of the Pfizer vaccine early last week. I rather take my chances with mRNA vaccines than the traditional viral vector ones or the inactivated versions. I had an instant mild reaction to it that the on-site medical staff promptly resolved. But in a nutshell, I'm cleared to go for my scheduled second jab. After the jab, I experienced no soreness in the jabbed arm, no muscle aches, no fever, nothing. I went for pilates the day after with no issues. 

Whatever it is, it only means that I'm not turning up at any bigger-than-five-persons gathering for any extended length of time indoors without masks, even if the rules relax. That's because there're only so few people I won't feel resentful towards if I'm slapped with a SHN resulting from 'close contact' with them. Hello, my dog would suffer too. She pees and poops OUTDOORS. For the sake of my dog, I'll legit tell you that I don't want to meet you. I'd rather nip all unnecessary socializing and stick to this circle of faeriefolk.