GEORGE TOWN: Despite the school holidays, the streets in Penang are quiet so much so that it feels like the movement control order (MCO) has been enforced.

       Over the weekend, Penangites chose to stay home and not many tourists came for their char koay teow and cendol fix.

       Only a handful of people were spotted at tourist spots like Armenian Street which showcases street art.

       As for parents shopping for their children’s school supplies, a check showed that not many have come out to buy uniforms and stationery for their kids.

       A contractor, who wished to be known as Lee, 51, made good use of his off day to take his 13-year-old son shopping for new school uniforms.

       “Jia Zhe will be entering Form One this year and he needs new uniforms. Since I am not working today, I brought him shopping as school will reopen soon.

       “My other child will be wearing old uniforms. Most classes were carried out online last year so the uniforms are still new.

       “We also bought a new school bag and some stationery,” he said.

       Lee added that since Jia Zhe has been fully vaccinated, he is not worried about his son returning to school.

       “My son is eager to meet his friends as they only attended physical classes for five months last year.

       “I always remind him to follow the standard operating procedure strictly and keep himself well protected. We are entering the endemic phase soon and life will be normal again,” he said.

       Housewife Kamilah Zainab, 48, whose two children are in Year Six and Form Three, said she decided to buy new school uniforms for them.

       “Most schools will reopen on March 21 with only a handful of students on rotational basis.However, I will get them only two sets each instead of the usual four as I am worried about another lockdown or school closure,” she said.

       Kamilah said although she is concerned about her children returning to school, there was nothing much she could do to change the situation.

       “I can only hope that the safety measures are all in place and our children can resume schooling like normal again. As long as everybody is responsible, I think physical classes are better for children as compared to them studying virtually at home.

       “Online lessons keep them cooped up at home way too long,” she said.A school supplies store employee Lim Ching Ching, 51, said business was picking up as parents usually preferred to buy school uniforms and stationery “at the very last minute”.

       “Many parents are still unsure if they should send their children to school due to the spike in Covid-19 cases. Since students only attended school for a few months last year, most of their uniforms are still new except for some who had grown taller. Before the pandemic, parents usually bought about four sets of uniforms for their children but they are now taking only two sets.

       “The sales of stationery items such as pens and pencils have also reduced significantly,” she said.