South Asians? When you need them to do the cleaning, they are there.

When you need them to clean your blocks and neighbourhood so that you can have a safer environment, they are the ones to do the job, increasing their risk of exposure to the virus. You don't care which part of South Asia they hail from.

Our border restriction measures are strict. How do I know, you ask? From a daily average of 200,000 arrivals a day at Changi Airport pre-covid to an average of 1200 arrivals a day. Changi Airport is like ghost town. If that is not strict, what is? Total shutdown?

You charged that the government cares more for 'their' economy than your lives. 'Their' economy is 'your' jobs. You expect them not only to keep your safe, but to ensure your livelihoods. Yes, you do. Because if there is no food on the table and your children are hungry and crying, you won't say, "Thank you, government, that our lives matter more than our livelihoods."

Since 23 April 2021, all long-term pass holders and short-term visitors with recent travel history (including transit) to India within the last 14 days are not allowed entry into Singapore, or transit through Singapore.

#overheard

*the suffering is real*

Just caught up briefly with an Indian friend of mine recently.

He is originally from India. His family and him decided to settle down and make a living in Singapore a number of years ago.

He shared that close to thirty of his colleagues in India recently passed away because of Covid. Within his business unit, just slightly less than ten also contracted Covid but thankfully they survived, for now.

The suffering in India is real. It is pervasive and is widespread.

* an Indian friend of my wife described the situation in New Delhi as "a bloodbath".

I can imagine the desperation of those who are living and working here would feel, when they have loved ones stranded in India, especially so if they are young or elderly, vulnerable and living alone.

It is a life and death issue to them, literally.

And it is not unreasonable and perfectly understandable to expect some of them living here, to try their utmost to ensure the safety of their loved ones by arranging for them to be moved here. I would do the same too if I know that the safety of my loved ones is being threatened.

Perhaps we need to view Covid not simply as a country-specific problem.

Perhaps we need to view Covid more broadly as a shared humanity problem.

Perhaps.......

When viewed in this light, yes, we may be suffering much unwelcomed inconveniences because of the semi lockdown situation we are in.

But when compared to the dire and hopeless situation in India, our 'suffering' really pales in comparison.

..... we weep with those who weep.