Author Archives: Daniel Tay

Circuit Breaker – Day 16 Normally I write about my experiences but today I had none, since it was my day off and I stayed at home battling anxiety. So I’ll just write about what I spent last night thinking about. Out of all workers, the 20% of people still commuting to work are theContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 16”

Circuit Breaker – Day 15 Two days ago, I shared a post about recognising mental health symptoms experienced by people undergoing this traumatic period. While this coronavirus period has largely resulted in little change in my lifestyle — the sole exception being having to buy groceries — I too have not been immune to theseContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 15”

Circuit Breaker – Day 14 I decided to go out at 4.30am to get some bread from the nearby supermarket, and some pork products which Yihong Trading Enterprise doesn’t sell, because it’s a halal-certified establishment. This is the best time to be in the supermarket. Shelves are restocked to how a supermarket normally looks like. The lastContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 14”

Circuit Breaker – Day 13 Shit got real yesterday. I was doing a shift with a team mate at a location that no longer sells food. He wanted to order McDonald’s delivery, but decided against it when he saw that it would take 2 hours to get to our location. In the morning, when IContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 13”

Circuit Breaker – Day 12 I have decided to get the bulk of the household’s groceries from Yihong Trading Enterprise and have it delivered. That’s what I’ll be using part of my $600 Solidarity Payment for. Daniel Yap’s business had previously been serving the needs of the Bangladeshi population in Singapore. With many migrant workers locked downContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 12”

Circuit Breaker – Day 11 When I first took up this work, no one knew much about Covid-19. We all thought that Wuhan was overreacting, and that the whole thing would blow over by May. We never expected that in May, we would be locked down almost as tight as Wuhan. But at least ourContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 11”

Circuit Breaker – Day 10 Since Circuit Breaker, Singapore’s version of lockdown, started, all non-essential shops have been made to close their doors. Only essential services may remain open. Here where I’ve been temporarily working, entry to playgrounds are forbidden, fountains have stopped functioning, and even many food stalls are also closed. Some shops doContinue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 10”

Circuit Breaker – Day 9 I’m standing at my station with one hour to go in my 12-hour shift. A guy I once worked with walks up to me and hands me a hot cup of Lipton tea. “I don’t drink hot drinks,” he says. I am surprised. “You don’t drink hot drinks?” I ask.Continue reading “Covid Chronicles, Day 9”