The search for rationality & confidence amidst COVID-19 fears
Fear is an optimal ingredient in creating an environment that is devoid of rationality & confidence, and COVID-19 has shown just that
This analysis does not equate to justification or endorsement. Hate crimes or discriminatory actions do not deserve any explanation beyond the facts presented. However, an analysis into why certain actions are carried out might shed light on the current reality and possibly help in preventing more atrocities.
Just a day ago, a 55-year-old Indian Singaporean woman became a victim of a racist attack. A 30-year-old man had hurled racial slurs and landed a kick on her which caused her to fall and suffer from scratches on her arms and hands. These antagonistic actions came after the would-be assailant shouted at the woman to cover her nose with her mask. To be clear, the woman was brisk-walking at the point in time and the law states that a mask is not necessary during strenuous exercises, which include among many things, brisk walking.
Based on the facts given, on top of the racist connotation of the man’s actions, it is apparent that this unfortunate incident is also a reflection of how the fear of the COVID-19 virus has created a tense environment that may influence some to make irrational decisions, possibly in a bid to protect themselves and the way of life as they had known it to be.
Last week, the Singapore government announced that stricter COVID-19 regulations will be put in place for the coming three weeks as the number of new cases per day began to creep up and clusters started to form around the island city, including one at Tan Tock Seng Hospital (TTSH). Unfortunately, this has also resulted in discriminatory actions by members of the public against healthcare workers from TTSH, such as receiving multiple cancellations for ride-hailing services to TTSH. Meanwhile, the emergence of the Indian variant, B16171 and B16172 which is more infectious, among the new clusters have generated more fears and worries.
As a result of these differences, people often experience a discrepancy between emotional reaction to, and logical evaluations, of a threat
— Loewenstein, et al., as cited in Heshmat, 2020
It is not difficult to see why these incidents are occuring. Facing a pandemic that has dragged on for more than a year, many people are tired of restrictions and yearn to return back to normalcy. Singapore had just moved into Phase 3 at the start of the year and people had hoped for the continued relaxation of restrictions. Yet, the converse has happened. Coupled with the worsening situation in South Asia, the sense of fear and worry has definitely heightened among many. Referencing Associate Professor Emeritus Shahram Heshmat of University of Illinois at Springfield’s article on Psychology Today, fear can inhibit our ability to make rational decisions. Sensing danger, our brain and body prepares to brace for impact and we may engage in behavourial patterns that we were previously not used to. This is our brain’s attempt at protecting us but sometimes, it can be overdone and our actions slowly devolve to become questionable.
If we were to look back to a year ago, this explains the stockpiling of toilet paper, instant noodles and other daily essentials. Even though the government had assured that there would not be any shortages, some reacted to the prospect of a pandemic outbreak in Singapore with a mentality that some might jokingly insinuate that these people must have thought that war was coming. However, it is not entirely false. Our brains are programmed to protect us and in the midst of the uncertainty, some would have believed that the pandemic necessitate a strong defensive reaction. Similarly, people see a need to protect their loved ones and themselves from the virus and in a similar fashion to physical threats, there is a natural tendency to close up, limit exposure and possibly lash out against the provocateur. This is not unlike the protectionism policies we see enacted in many countries during economic hardships.
In the face of fear, you might turn to different behavioral patterns than normal (like loading up on toilet paper)
— Lauren Murray, clinical psychologist and associate scientist at Johns Hopkins University, School of Public Health speaking to CNBC Make It
This brings me to my next point- should the Singapore government have closed our borders earlier? Some Singaporeans believe that if the government had closed the borders, the variants of the COVID-19 virus would not have reached Singapore and stricter restrictions might not have been reinstated. It is a sound argument and one that looks tremendously attractive. Look eastwards and you will see two countries that have isolated themselves virtually to the whole world currently, thriving, relatively, while many other countries continue to face hiccups in their fight against the virus.
Masks are no longer mandatory (with certain exceptions such as on public transports and when the government determines that the risk of infection necessitates the mandatory wearing of masks) in New Zealand and Australia. There are many factors leading to the current success of both countries and one would be the closure of their borders. Entry to both countries for foreigners remain difficult, if not impossible. Australia went a step further and banned its citizens and residents from returning if they had been to India within 14 days of their planned arrival, threatening any infringement with a jail sentence.
Certainly, Singapore can do that right? Sure, but at what cost? To me, the notion of shutting out our own citizens and residents is a deal breaker. While some may argue that it is to the country’s benefit if it chooses to protect the majority and sacrifice a minority (that may have chosen to stay abroad during the pandemic), a citizenship or a permanent residence status should amount to a list of rights and the promise of a safe haven during times of crisis is, I believe, an inalienable right.
Taking into account the lack of resources and our dependence on migrant workers, shutting our borders completely from the onset would have severely damaged our economy. It is not to say that the economy is more important than our lives but the pandemic will eventually go but a weakened economy can have long lasting impacts on every aspect of our lives on a multiplied scale. This is a sentiment that has been echoed by numerous politicians.
If we close our borders to them, many Singaporeans will not be getting the keys to their homes. Many households will have their FDWs, Foreign Domestic Workers, delayed and will have to find alternative care arrangements for their loved ones. Our economy will also slow down and the lives and livelihood of many will be impacted
— Dr Koh Poh Koon, Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Health, addressing Parliament in mid-February 2021
However, stricter measures were eventually put in place as the situation in South Asia worsened. Mr Lawrence Wong, Singapore’s Minister for Education and the co-chair of the Multi-Ministry Task Force, stated a week ago that Singapore is small and we depend heavily on migrant workers in our construction industry. The government had been controlling arrivals early on, before the current restrictions were rolled out. Without a doubt, this has cast uncertainties and worries in our construction sector as many projects are already behind schedule due to the high number of cases among migrant workers last year and the Circuit Breaker. Definitely, a delicate balance needs to be struck between our demand for migrant workers and our response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
It is also simple to push the blame to a certain group of people for the pandemic amidst the fears and worries. Some may believe that it is easier to attribute the damaging effects of the pandemic to something we can see, or in more blatant terms — an easy target. This can be a person or a community. However, the bitter truth is that the blame-game has no end to it and all it does is generate animosity among communities. Anti-Asian hate crimes in the US and the UK are examples of people seeking to blame someone for the current plight of the world. Yet, the outcome of these attacks can do nothing to resolve the problem but instead may generate unnecessary tension and divide. Honestly, has blaming others ever led to any resolution?
Fear induces two types of reaction: fight or flight. Attacking others, closing up oneself and blaming others are examples of a flight reaction. People choose to, both intentionally and inadvertently, succumb to the demons of fear, perpetrating actions that do no good to the current situation. As cliché as it may sound, fear can unite or divide us and well, it is definitely up to us to decide.
As mentioned above, the pandemic will eventually go away but the impact of our actions will not. There is simply no reason to hate others or point fingers during these trying times. Instead, there needs to be trust and confidence. Many would have realised that despite stricter COVID-19 restrictions placed since last Saturday, many Singaporeans are still going on with their daily lives as per normal. Some may think that this is complacency, but I see it as Singaporeans’ confidence in the system and the trust we have for each other that everyone will adhere to the restrictions and observe a high level of discretion. It is normal to fear and worry but there is a threshold that we have to maintain, else, we will be heading down a slippery slope.
