KOTA KINABALU – Sabahans celebrated a low-key Christmas under new norms yesterday, as Covid-19 cases remain on the rise in the state.
While some watched livestreamed service, Christians also attended mass at churches after state health authorities eased restrictions to accommodate the day’s activities.
State Covid-19 spokesman Datuk Seri Masidi Manjun said churches were allowed to hold Christmas mass at half capacity.
Families later gathered for Christmas lunch, which were limited to close members, while personal e-greeting cards were exchanged with friends and relatives via social media, as well as popular messaging platform WhatsApp.
A family from Penampang that never miss hosting a Christmas party each year even went to the extent of registering as a venue in the MySejahtera app for easy contact tracing.
The Sebastian household, from a suburban village in the district, made it a point for all family members to register before entering their home.
“We want to be sure that no one is sick, and that it will be easy for health authorities to track family members who might have contracted the virus,” Theodore Sebastian told The Vibes.
“Although we pray for the best, we also think of all the possibilities, as anything could happen.”
For the Delos Santos family here, social media was a lifesaver for many family members who could not make it home this year.
Jennifer Delos Santos, who lives in Johor Baru, sent e-greeting cards and well-wishes through social media to her family back home in Sabah, as well as videos and pictures of her cooking on Christmas Eve.
“It is not easy to return to Kota Kinabalu for the celebrations. There’s the swab test and then the flight home,” said Jennifer.
In Sandakan, Steven Ong had to celebrate Christmas without his father, who works in Africa.
The 26-year-old celebrated the festival at home with his mother and sister.
Instead of attending Christmas-morning mass, his family stayed home and watched a livestream on YouTube instead.
Ong said the Anglican Church in Bandar Indah decided not to conduct mass, as the conditional movement control order is still in place.
“In previous years, we would attend mass at church, and then proceed to visit our friends’ houses.
“This year, my sister and I stayed at home, while my mother went to visit a friend after the online mass.
“It sure is not the same this year without my father and mass at church, but we are grateful to be blessed with good health.” – The Vibes, December 26, 2020
Additional reporting by Rebecca Chong
